LUUKA – Thursday, July 17, 2025
Tension is running high in Luuka District as voters demand the immediate withdrawal of armed men dressed in UPDF uniform who are reportedly working for incumbent Woman MP Esther Mbayo in the ongoing NRM parliamentary primaries.
The masked operatives, travelling in a taxi registration number UBQ 765C, are accused of intimidating voters, beating up locals, and blocking access to polling stations in a desperate effort to tilt the vote in Mbayo’s favor.
Eyewitnesses from Bukanga Subcounty, a known Nabirye stronghold, report that the uniformed men have been deployed to intercept campaign agents of Mbayo’s main challenger, Annet Nabirye, and to suppress voter turnout in areas where the incumbent has lost public support.
“They are beating up people, threatening our mothers, and chasing voters away from polling grounds,” said one village youth leader. “All of this is happening under Mbayo’s command but we shall brave all forms of situation to make sure we get rid of her.”
Mbayo, who has fallen out of favor with many voters due to what they describe as poor performance, arrogance, and personalizing government programs, is now being accused of turning to military-backed intimidation as a last resort to maintain her grip on power.
“She failed to win over the people and has instead hired soldiers to force herself back into office,” said a resident in Irongo. “This is not the NRM we know — this is fear and terror.”
NRM party loyalists and local leaders have strongly condemned the presence of military-clad thugs in what is meant to be a peaceful lining-up election. Voting in the primaries officially began at 12:00 noon and ends at 2:00pm nationwide, but in Luuka, voters say their constitutional right is being violated.
“This is a party election, not a military coup,” said a women’s group representative. “We demand the immediate withdrawal of these illegal operatives working for Mbayo.”
Repeated attempts to reach UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulaigye for a comment were unsuccessful. As of Thursday morning, calls to his official phone line went unanswered, deepening suspicions and anger among voters.
Civil society groups are now demanding that the UPDF High Command clarifies whether the individuals in question are serving officers or imposters illegally wearing the army uniform.
“If these are real soldiers, then the UPDF is being used to crush democracy. If they’re imposters, then let the army arrest them immediately,” said one human rights observer
