The Electoral Commission (EC) faced intense scrutiny from Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) over the recently nullified Kawempe North by-election, amid reports of violence, destruction of election materials, and security failures.
Appearing before COSASE on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, the Commission led by Acting Secretary Richard Kamugisha was questioned on the credibility of the polls following a 26 May High Court ruling that nullified the election of Hon. Elias Nalukoola (NUP) due to irregularities.
Kamugisha defended the Commission’s role, stating that all statutory procedures were followed. However, he acknowledged the challenges faced, including threats to staff during the vote. “Our people were at the polling station filling declaration forms when they were chased with stones. Should they have stayed and been stoned?” he posed.
MPs, however, remained sceptical. Legislators pointed to the destruction of election materials at 14 polling stations and the arrest of a candidate during campaign processions as signs of mismanagement.
Hon. Medard Sseggona, the committee chairperson, pressed Kamugisha to clarify the role of the army in the election, particularly questioning whether the EC invited the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JAT). In response, Kamugisha stated that the EC did not request army deployment and that security management during elections is a mandate of the Uganda Police. He added that the Police later apologized for their actions.
Concerns were also raised by Hon. Allan Mayanja (NUP, Nakaseke Central), who cited an incident at Kawempe Mbogo Mosque where journalists were reportedly beaten on polling day. Kamugisha confirmed that one nominated candidate had been arrested, though not at the nomination venue.
When asked whether the by-election could be considered free and fair, Kamugisha maintained that elections involve multiple stakeholders and blamed the destruction of election materials for preventing declaration of results. He admitted that while the EC reported the incidents to Kawempe Police Station, the cases remain under investigation with little progress made.
MPs, including Hon. Abdallah Kiwanuka (NUP, Mukono County North) and Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi (FDC, Mawokota South), expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission’s handling of the situation. Nsibambi criticized the EC for failing its constitutional mandate, stating, “If goons can terrorize voters and you who have constitutional powers say ‘what can we do?’, then why are we here? You are legitimizing insanity in an election that is supposed to be free and fair.”
The committee has directed the Electoral Commission to return with a report on lessons learned from the incident at a future meeting.
