As campaigns for the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election enter their final days, the government has issued a stern warning to candidates and voters to avoid violence and any actions that could disrupt the electoral process. The by-election, scheduled for January 13, follows the tragic passing of the former MP, Muhammad Segirinya, on January 9.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party chairperson, is set to campaign for the NRM candidate, Hajat Faridah Nambi, in the coming days. This follows a similar campaign trail by State Minister Robinah Nabbanja over the weekend.
Godfrey Kabyanga, the State Minister for Information and National Guidance, urged voters to refrain from provoking security personnel, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace during the electoral process. This comes after reports of clashes between voters and security forces over the past week, which have raised concerns about the integrity of the by-election.
The issue of security forces allegedly assaulting voters was recently discussed in Parliament, where lawmakers from both sides of the political divide condemned the incidents and called for calm.
A total of 10 candidates are vying for the Kawempe North parliamentary seat, which was previously held by the late Muhammad Segirinya. Minister Kabyanga assured the public that the election would proceed peacefully and that no disruptions would be tolerated.
Although the NRM has a working relationship with the Democratic Party (DP), both parties have fielded candidates in the by-election. Minister Kabyanga dismissed claims that the NRM had reached a secret agreement with the DP, stating that each party is free to contest the seat.
Kawempe North consists of nine parishes and 197 polling stations, with 199,312 registered voters, up from 164,052 in the 2021 general elections. The government has called on all stakeholders to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful by-election, urging voters to exercise their democratic rights responsibly.
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