Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate for the Kawempe North Member of Parliament by-election, shared a harrowing account of his arrest this Wednesday. The incident occurred immediately after Nalukoola’s nomination by the Electoral Commission, when he was aggressively detained by heavily armed security forces.
As he completed the nomination process, Nalukoola was surrounded by a group of security officers wearing face masks, who forcibly manhandled him. In the struggle, his shirt was left unbuttoned as the officers roughly pushed him into a waiting Toyota Hiace vehicle, often referred to as a “drone” due to its association with security operations. Despite his desperate pleas, the officers showed no compassion, continuing with the arrest as tension mounted.
Nalukoola’s supporters, witnessing the violent arrest, attempted to intervene, but their efforts were met with gunfire as security personnel fired shots into the air, dispersing the crowd. Nalukoola, along with a few supporters, was driven to Kawempe Police Station, where he was later released without charge after a brief period.
Describing the ordeal, Nalukoola told reporters, “As I tried to escape from them in the midst of whipping us, I jumped onto a boda boda. Those ruthless people pulled me off the boda boda, dragged me on the tarmac, and aggressively forced me into a waiting drone.” He added that once at the police station, he and his supporters were locked in a small room and beaten without any chance of escape.
“I was beaten even though there was no way to flee. These officers are not professional; they are ruthless. They don’t deserve to occupy positions of authority; they are supposed to be human rights defenders, but instead, they violate human rights. Our democracy is in danger,” Nalukoola stated.
Nalukoola’s day began with frustration after his nomination agent was allegedly kidnapped the night before and his original nomination documents were stolen. He claimed the missing documents included receipts for the paid nomination fees. Despite the setbacks, Nalukoola remained resolute, stating, “This morning has been horrible, but we will not surrender or abandon the noble cause of promoting democracy in Uganda.”
The Kawempe North MP seat became vacant following the death of former MP Muhammad Ssegirinya. The by-election to fill the position will take place on March 13, 2025.
