By Two opposition Members of Parliament and several journalists have been arrested during the ongoing Kawempe North by-election under yet-to-be-disclosed charges. The arrests come amid a heavy military presence and reports of security brutality at polling stations.
The detained MPs, Geoffrey Kayemba Ssolo (Bukomansimbi South) and Hillary Kiyaga (Mawokota North), both members of the National Unity Platform (NUP), were apprehended at Kazo Angola polling station and swiftly taken away by security operatives.
During the arrests, security forces also attacked journalists covering the events, assaulting them, breaking cameras, and confiscating equipment. Several journalists were detained, including Abubaker Lubowa, Raymond Tamale, Denis Kabugo, Francis Isano, and Hakim Wampamba, who, at the time of filing this report, were being held inside a Toyota Hiace van, infamously known as a ‘drone’.
One journalist who witnessed the incident recounted, “They pointed guns at us and ordered us not to record anything.”
Targeted Attacks on Journalists
Fearing for their safety, several journalists have fled polling stations following what is increasingly seen as a deliberate military crackdown on the press.
Hasifah Nanvuma, a journalist with NMG-U, shared her experience:
“I was speaking with people who had not yet voted when UPDF soldiers arrived in two patrol vehicles and began making arrests. When security operatives spotted my camera, they attacked me, beating me with sticks and damaging my equipment. I ran into a nearby building, but they had already identified me. I had to remove my press jacket and scarf before hiding in a toilet for safety.”
The military presence in Kawempe North has intensified, with armored personnel carriers (Mambas), drone surveillance, and heavily armed security officers—both in uniform and plain clothes—stationed in key areas, particularly around Kazo Angola polling station.
Condemnation from the National Association of Broadcasters
The wave of violence against journalists has drawn sharp criticism from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which issued a strong statement condemning security forces’ actions.
“The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) strongly condemns the escalating violence and assaults against our journalists by security forces. These attacks, observed over the past few months, threaten press freedom and undermine the democratic principles upon which our nation is built. Journalists must be allowed to perform their duties without fear of harassment, intimidation, or physical harm,” NAB stated.
Since the start of the nomination process on February 26, which followed the death of former Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya in January, at least three other journalists have reportedly been targeted and brutalized by security forces. These include:
Miracle Ibrah (Top TV)
Steven Kibwiika (Cameraman, Spark TV)
Stephen Mbidde (NTV)
The March 13 voting process has also faced setbacks, with delays reported at multiple polling stations due to malfunctioning voter verification machines and the late arrival of voters.
The situation in Kawempe North remains tense, with concerns over electoral transparency, press freedom, and the continued militarization of the election process.
