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Ahead of this week’s Kawempe North by-election on March 13, 2025, the Uganda Police Force has issued a stern warning to all candidates against prematurely announcing election results.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rosoke guided on Monday that only the Electoral Commission (EC) is authorised to declare official outcomes, cautioning that unauthorised proclamations could incite unnecessary anxiety and disrupt public order.
Adherence to Electoral Guidelines
During the weekly press briefing, Rosoke encouraged candidates to collaborate closely with designated police officers assigned to each of the nine parishes in Kawempe North, facilitating effective communication and swift resolution of any arising issues.
"Elections are a very challenging exercise; at times they can explode into something else, which is understandable," Rosoke noted.
"What is important for us is to have mechanisms through which we can address these discrepancies whenever they arise."
Potential Rigging and Voter Register Discrepancies
The NUP has raised alarms over potential rigging plans by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Last week, the opposition party cited an unexplained increase in the number of registered voters compared to the 2021 elections and an alleged plot to establish a polling station within a military base in Kawempe.
NUP candidate Nalukoola has publicly warned against any attempts to manipulate the election results, asserting that such actions would be met with "dire consequences."
"We are going to protect our votes. We have the team capable of doing this," Nalukoola declared during his campaign in Kawempe
In light of these tensions, the police's advisory against self-declaration of results aims to maintain order and uphold the credibility of the electoral process.
All stakeholders were urged to exercise restraint and await the official announcements from the Electoral Commission to ensure a peaceful and transparent election.
“We urge the candidates – because we know this is very common, especially in this world of social media. Please do not announce your own results because they will not be considered. Wait for the official results from the official sources and that is the Electoral Commission,” Rusoke added.
The by-election has been marred by reports of violence and heavy-handedness by security operatives, particularly the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JAT).
Incidents include the arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola shortly after his nomination, as well as the assault of journalists covering the events.
Members of Parliament have condemned these actions, expressing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the state's approach to democracy.