Politics in Uganda: Rising tensions, fading harmony

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By Jackline Turinayo Baganizi

There is a growing and troubling trend in Ugandan politics—a surge in violence, intimidation, and bribery that is steadily eroding the spirit of democratic engagement.

For a long time, I had only heard about these issues through news reports, conversations, and social media clips. I never thought I would personally witness the kind of political hostility that seems to have become normalised in our electoral processes.

That changed yesterday, July 14, 2025, when I accompanied my brother, Hon. Sam Bitangaro, to his final campaign rallies in Bufumbira South, Kisoro District.

Rallies had been scheduled at three locations: Chahi, Nyakabingo, and Muganza. Everything began smoothly at Chahi. Our team arrived first, and the large crowd quickly and respectfully organised themselves—supporters of our candidate on one side, and room left for those supporting the other contenders.

It was encouraging to see that kind of mutual respect. When the other four candidates arrived, the LC1 chairman welcomed all teams, and the moderator allowed each candidate five minutes to address the voters. The atmosphere was peaceful and well-managed, although we had to leave promptly after the speeches to make it in time for the next rally in Nyakabingo, which unfortunately turned out to be a different story altogether.

To avoid confusion and potential clashes, each candidate’s convoy took different routes to the second venue. Spirits were high along the road—people lined up on the roadside and came out of gardens to wave at us, sing, dance, and cheer for Hon. Sam. Some even moved closer to our vehicle to pledge their support and have a glance at their candidate.  

The general mood was festive and hopeful. I was in the same car as Hon. Sam and his wife Barbara, soaking in what felt like the essence of grassroots political engagement.

However, as we neared Nyakabingo, we encountered a roadblock staged by supporters of one of the opponents. Dressed in yellow overalls and calling themselves a “security team,” these individuals had taken over the road completely. Their demeanour was intimidating—some of them looked like they had been hired for violence.

We pleaded with them to clear a path so that we could access the venue, but our requests fell on deaf ears. Tensions escalated, and words were exchanged between supporters from both camps. The situation quickly spiralled out of control.

Suddenly, large stones began flying through the air, hurled with terrifying force. I couldn't believe the strength and determination it took to throw such huge stones. Fear took hold of me. One man charged toward our vehicle, clearly targeting Hon. Sam. I watched in horror as he raised a rock and hurled it directly at the windshield where Hon. Sam was seated. Barbara screamed, “Sam, take cover! Sam, take cover!” It felt like a scene from a war zone, not a democratic political rally. Thankfully, one of our brave supporters intervened just in time, and the stone missed its target.

But the violence didn’t stop. More stones flew, and as I looked out the window, I witnessed one of our supporters being struck on the head by a hammer-like object wielded by a man in a yellow overall. That was the moment I knew we were in real danger—this wasn’t about politics anymore; it was about survival. Fearing for Hon. Sam’s life and the safety of everyone in our convoy, we made the decision to retreat.

Our driver began hooting and reversing as quickly as possible. The vehicle behind us—a Super Custom van—moved back to create room. We managed to escape the chaos and drove straight to the police station in Kisoro Town to report the incident.

Initially, we planned to return to Nyakabingo after notifying the authorities, but we were reliably informed that the same group was still waiting to attack. After much consultation, we made the painful decision not to go back. We later learned that the event had been cancelled altogether.

What has really gone wrong in our politics? When did political competition become synonymous with violence, bribery, and threats? It’s heartbreaking that people are willing to harm or even kill for the sake of elections.

We urgently need a nationwide sensitisation effort to remind the public that there is life after elections. Electing leaders should not be a matter of life and death. Democracy cannot flourish in an environment where fear and violence overshadow ideas and vision.

This experience was deeply personal, but it is by no means isolated. Similar stories are emerging across the country. The old saying goes that "politics is a dirty game," but must we keep sinking deeper into that dirt?

Surely, we can aim to make politics less dirty—not more toxic. Let us not allow our democratic values to be eroded by chaos and cruelty. Uganda deserves better, and we must collectively work toward restoring peace, tolerance, and harmony in our political landscape.

baganizijackie@gmail.com