By Our Reporter
The Electoral Commission (EC) came under sharp scrutiny on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, as it appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to answer for the violence, procedural failures, and alleged security breaches that marred the recently nullified Kawempe North by-election.
The High Court on May 26 nullified the election of Hon. Elias Nalukoola (National Unity Platform – NUP), citing widespread irregularities. The EC, led by Acting Secretary Richard Kamugisha, defended its conduct during the polls but acknowledged serious challenges, including threats to electoral staff and disruptions at polling stations.
“Our people were at the polling station filling declaration forms when they were chased with stones. Should they have stayed and been stoned?” Kamugisha told the committee in a tense session.
Parliamentarians remained unconvinced. MPs cited the destruction of election materials at 14 polling stations and the arrest of a candidate during campaign processions as evidence of systemic mismanagement and failure to safeguard the integrity of the election.
Hon. Medard Sseggona, COSASE chairperson, questioned the involvement of the army—particularly the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JAT)—during the by-election. Kamugisha responded that the Electoral Commission did not request military deployment and clarified that the Uganda Police is responsible for election security. He added that the Police had since issued an apology for any excesses.
Further concerns were raised by Hon. Allan Mayanja (NUP, Nakaseke Central), who highlighted reports of journalists being assaulted at Kawempe Mbogo Mosque on polling day. Kamugisha confirmed one candidate had been arrested, though not at the nomination venue, and added that police investigations into related incidents had yet to yield results.
When pressed on whether the by-election could be considered free and fair, Kamugisha placed blame on the breakdown of order, stating that the destruction of election materials made it impossible to complete the vote tallying process. “Elections involve multiple stakeholders,” he said, “and in this case, some actors chose disruption.”
The committee, however, expressed frustration with the EC’s apparent helplessness. Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi (FDC, Mawokota South) delivered a scathing rebuke:
“If goons can terrorize voters and you, who have constitutional powers, say ‘what can we do?’, then why are we here? You are legitimizing insanity in an election that is supposed to be free and fair.”
His sentiments were echoed by Hon. Abdallah Kiwanuka (NUP, Mukono North), who criticized the Commission’s failure to assert control and uphold its constitutional mandate.
COSASE has now directed the Electoral Commission to return with a detailed report on the failures of the Kawempe North by-election, as well as a clear outline of lessons learned and proposed reforms to prevent future occurrences.
The controversy surrounding the by-election adds to growing public concerns about the credibility of Uganda’s electoral processes, particularly in highly contested urban constituencies.