Kampala Tensions Rise as Uganda Elections 2026 Turn Chaotic: Is NUP Running Against the Police?
KAMPALA — What began as a surprisingly peaceful start to the Uganda Elections 2026 has now erupted into a wave of confrontations between the Uganda Police, security agencies, and supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and its presidential candidate Bobi Wine.
For weeks, the campaign trail was calm. No tear gas. No sirens. No street battles. Kampala youth even joked that the race felt “boring.”
But by late November, the quiet broke—and the familiar tensions of Uganda’s politics returned full force.
Blocked NUP rallies, arrests of opposition activists, and violent clashes between police and Bobi Wine supporters sparked a new national debate:
Is NUP competing in an election—or facing off with Uganda’s security forces?
Kampala and Key Districts See Rising Confrontations
After the September nomination of eight presidential candidates, including President Museveni, Bobi Wine, Nandala Mafabi, and Mugisha Muntu, the Electoral Commission (EC) praised the orderly start of the campaigns.
But the peace proved fragile.
By mid-November:
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NUP rallies were disrupted
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Supporters faced tear gas and arrests
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Roads in Kampala and Iganga were blocked
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Police and NUP supporters clashed repeatedly
On November 24, violent scenes in Kawempe — involving tear gas and police dogs — signaled the beginning of a new escalation.
The Iganga Killing: Tragedy That Shook the Nation
The campaign atmosphere shifted dramatically after police shot and killed Misaki (Meshach) Okello, a NUP supporter, on November 28 in Iganga.
Bobi Wine accused police of using live bullets to disperse crowds.
Three other supporters suffered severe injuries.
The Electoral Commission condemned the killing and called for investigations, but the death sparked outrage in Kampala and across the Busoga region.
To many voters, the Iganga incident revived a familiar perception:
the Police force and opposition politics are on a collision course every election cycle.
Police Defend Use of Force, NUP Cries Foul
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke insisted officers are briefed against “overzealous behavior,” and blamed chaotic crowd movement for the clashes.
But opposition figures, including human rights lawyer George Musisi, argue that Uganda’s security institutions have become too entangled with politics.
“There’s a wrong positioning of the security forces,” Musisi said.
“This happens every election.”
Senior lawyer Peter Walubiri was even more direct, saying what is happening is “a rehearsal” for intensified crackdowns as the 2026 elections draw closer.
A Police Force Making Progress—But Overshadowed by Campaign Violence
Ironically, the clashes erupted just months after the Uganda Police Force released a five-year performance report showing:
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4.1% crime reduction in 2024
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improved emergency response times
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greater integration of policing technology
However, the violence in Kawempe, Kayunga, Iganga, and Mbarara has overshadowed these gains, renewing public skepticism—especially among Kampala youth and first-time voters.
Uganda Elections 2026: A Critical Test of Trust
With the election weeks away, the big question dominating Kampala, social media, and political talk shows is:
Can Uganda hold a peaceful, credible election when confrontations between NUP and the Police keep escalating?
The next phase of the campaign will determine whether the country returns to the early spirit of peace—or slips deeper into a cycle of violence that has marked past elections.
For now, one thing is clear:
Uganda Elections 2026 are no longer just a political contest—they’re a test of trust between NUP, the Police, and the public.
