Chief of Defence Force Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced that he has promoted the soldier snapped by NBS TV journalist Canary Mugume in the heat of the Kawempe North by-election fracas.
Commenting on social media platforms, X Gen Muhhozi lauded the photo of the soldier as the best thing he had seen on the internet and stated that he would promote him for excellent service to UPDF.
“Best picture I have seen all week! I will look for this soldier and promote him,” he stated.
Shortly after, he announced that he had received the soldier's details for the cause of elevation in rank.
“I got his name and rank. Tomorrow I’m promoting him for excellent service to UPDF!”
By-election overshadowed by violence
The photo of the soldier on a bike with a colleague as the rider was first posted by Mugume as he alleged that he narrowly survived assault while performing his journalistic duties on the polling day.
“Took this on my phone. The guy threw the cable wire at me, moments before he disembarked from his motorbike. He missed landing it on my head, survived narrowly,” he said.
The Kawempe North by-election, which followed the death of former MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, was marred by violence and intimidation.
Reports of harassment and assault on journalists and opposition activists by security forces also stirred concerns.
Despite these challenges, NUP candidate Luyimbazi Nalukoola won the election by a large margin.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has since expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election, rejecting the official outcome and announcing plans to take legal action.