A total of nine senior police commanders have been deployed to manage security and ensure safety on the polling day in Kawempe North by-elections.
This was announced by Rushoke Kituuma, the police spokesperson, while addressing the weekly security briefing at Naguru police headquarters on Monday, 10th March, 2025.
Rushoke said a total of nine senior officers at the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) have been deployed in the area to ensure safety and security on Thursday, 13th March, when they will be voting.
He said each officer will be commanding, supervising, and managing security operations within a parish on the polling date. Each senior Commander, will be having a sizeable number of a joint security personnel from different agencies.
This is part of the latest security deployment strategies following the recent clashes during campaign activities in Kawempe North Division.
Members of Parliament last sharply criticized security agencies for their interference and excessive force used in the campaigns of the Kawempe North by-election, raising concerns about electoral violence and the state’s approach to democracy.
The condemnation of the actions of the security forces followed a statement by the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, to Parliament on Thursday, 06 March 2025, following the brutality unleashed on people in the ongoing campaigns.
Muhoozi’s statement came after reports detailing skirmishes between security forces and supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) resulting in 24 arrests, including two members of Parliament and the brutalization of a journalist.
Kawempe North constituency has 9 parishes with 197 polling stations, and it is densely populated, with most of the residents living in the slums.
The Kawempe North seat became vacant after the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya in January, and a total of 10 candidates were nominated by the Electoral Commission.
The candidates include Murerwa Hanifa Karadi (independent), Luwemba Lusswa Muhammed (independent), Luyimbazi Elias Nalukoola (National Unity Platform), Mukiibi Sadat (Forum for Democratic Change), Nsereko Moses (independent), Musiitwa Ismail (People’s Progressive Party), Mutazindwa Muhamood (independent), Kasacca Henry Mubiru (Democratic Party), and Faridah Nambi Kigongo (National Resistance Movement).
