Chaos erupted in Komamboga, a suburb of Kampala when police clashed with supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) ahead of Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi’s final campaign rally for the Kawempe North MP by-election.
The violent confrontation left at least one man with a broken leg as security forces moved to disperse a procession of NUP supporters escorting their candidate, intensifying tensions just two days before the March 13 polls.
The incident unfolded in the late afternoon as Nalukoola, NUP’s flagbearer for the vacant parliamentary seat, led a convoy of supporters toward the rally venue in Komamboga.
According to reports, police intervened to halt the procession, citing public order concerns.
The situation quickly escalated when security operatives fired tear gas and live bullets into the crowd. Amid the chaos, one supporter sustained a severe injury, a broken leg allegedly caused by police action during the dispersal.
The Kawempe North by-election, triggered by the death of former MP Muhammad Ssegirinya in January, has been marked by heightened political friction.
Nalukoola, backed by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, has campaigned on a platform of legislative accountability and youth empowerment, rallying significant support in the constituency.
Tuesday’s rally was intended as a final show of strength before voting day, with plans for Kyagulanyi to join the event. However, the police intervention disrupted these efforts, sparking outrage among NUP ranks.
Uganda’s security forces have a history of clashing with opposition groups during election periods, and this incident follows earlier reports of violence during the campaign.
Recently, an NUP supporter, Godfrey Onzima, displayed a leg injury he claimed was inflicted by security operatives.
The recurring confrontations have fueled accusations of state sponsored brutality, with NUP leaders arguing that their candidates face disproportionate targeting compared to rivals like the National Resistance Movement’s Faridah Nambi.
As night fell on March 11, the situation in Komamboga remained tense, with reports of arrests and scattered gunfire adding to the unease. The by-election, already a fiercely contested race, now carries the added weight of this violent episode, raising questions about the integrity of the process.
For Nalukoola and his supporters, the incident has only deepened their resolve to “protect the vote,” as he urged during earlier campaign stops.