UgandaToday: IEC Condemns Violent Confrontations as Security Blocks Kyagulanyi’s Campaign Trail in Northern Uganda
The Electoral Commission (EC) has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the violent clashes that marred Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s campaign rally in Gulu on Saturday, 6th December 2025. The incident—widely captured on video and decried by human rights defenders—saw police and military personnel descend on the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate’s convoy, unleashing brutal force as he made his way to address supporters.
IEC Denounces Violence, Calls for Restraint
In its communication dated 7th December 2025, the EC described the scenes in Gulu as “unfortunate and uncalled for,” emphasizing that violence is incompatible with its mandate to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
The Commission noted that its warnings come barely days after a joint meeting with all presidential candidates’ agents and the Uganda Police Force, during which all parties committed to lawful and peaceful conduct as the 2025 presidential campaigns intensify.
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, the IEC Chairperson, urged security organs to act with restraint and to employ “proportionate, lawful and humane means” when enforcing electoral guidelines. He reminded security agencies that a duly nominated presidential candidate has the right to freely traverse the country to campaign, provided they follow the law.
The Elegu Standoff: Police Block Kyagulanyi on Friday
Saturday’s violence followed a tense episode the previous day (Friday, 5th December 2025), when police prevented Kyagulanyi from accessing Elegu Town Council on the Uganda–South Sudan border.
Security operatives cordoned off all approaches to the town, claiming—without legal basis—that Elegu’s status as a “border town” made it unsuitable for hosting presidential campaign crowds. The justification was widely dismissed by legal experts and civil society organisations as inexcusable and arbitrary, given that electoral laws give no such restrictions on campaign locations.
NUP officials accused the police of deliberate sabotage, pointing to the fact that other candidates had previously campaigned in similar high-traffic border areas without obstruction. Video footage from the day showed supporters pleading with security personnel and chanting as Kyagulanyi’s motorcade was turned away.
Partisan Conduct of Security Agencies Under Scrutiny
The events in Elegu and Gulu have reignited concerns over what critics describe as the increasingly partisan posture of the police and the army in the ongoing presidential race. Human rights monitors, including local election observers, argue that the security forces appear to selectively apply campaign guidelines—often to the detriment of opposition candidates.
Kyagulanyi himself issued a statement accusing the police and military of “actively campaigning for President Museveni by suppressing the opposition,” a claim that resonates with many past complaints documented in previous electoral cycles.
Saturday’s confrontation in Gulu, where officers violently clobbered Kyagulanyi’s inner security cycle indiscriminately without sparing the IEC police security provided to Kyagulanyi’s campaign countrywide trail. added to fears that security agencies have strayed from their constitutional obligation of neutrality. Analysts warn that such actions risk undermining public confidence in the integrity of the 2026 elections.
IEC Calls for Investigations as Public Demands Accountability
The Electoral Commission has called on the Uganda Police Force to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the Gulu confrontation and ensure that any officers responsible for excessive or unlawful force are held to account.
While the IEC’s statement has been welcomed, citizens and civil society groups continue to demand stronger oversight, arguing that mere condemnations fall short unless matched by visible disciplinary action.
As the campaign period enters its final stretch, the unresolved tension between opposition candidates and security agencies remains a dominant concern among voters seeking a peaceful, democratic electoral process.
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