More than ninety people were arrested for various election offences across the country during the NRM primaries.
On Thursday, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) held its primary elections to choose party flagbearers for the 2026 general elections.
Rusoke Kituma, the Police Spokesperson, said that despite the generally peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country, the police had arrested ninety suspected electoral offenders across various regions.
According to Kituuma, the security situation during the elections was generally peaceful in most areas, including districts previously categorised as hotspots, such as Ssembabule, Isingiro, Mubende, among others. However, he noted that there were isolated incidents of deadly violence on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of three people.
“We recorded isolated incidents of violence and crime,” Kituuma said. “Notably, in Kamuli district, a tragic incident occurred on Wednesday night involving Sowedi Igumbye, who was shot dead while driving with passenger Johnbosco in a vehicle with registration number UAR749F. The circumstances suggest a security-related kidnapping attempt.” Kituuma said.
Police have since arrested five suspects to aid further investigations. By evening, we had deployed additional officers to the ground to gather more details about the incidents,” Kituuma said. “In Zombo district, a disturbing incident occurred where a woman was attacked with bows and arrows while returning from a rally, in an attempted murder.
The police have made notable arrests in connection with the NRM primaries. In Isingiro South constituency, a suspect named Benoni Tumwine was found with a hand grenade in Kamubezi town council. Meanwhile, in Dokolo, authorities intercepted a taxi carrying 14 suspected bouncers who were allegedly hired to disrupt the elections in Dokolo South constituency.
Additionally, in Iganga district, police arrested 68 individuals, allegedly students from the Law Development Centre, who were ferried from Kampala by a candidate to disrupt the elections.
The group was being housed in one location, and police acted on intelligence to apprehend them. In total, authorities have over 90 suspects in custody as part of efforts to ensure peaceful elections, according to Kituuma.