Detective in trouble over fatal Luuka shooting during NRM polls

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Police in Luuka district have arrested detective corporal Denis Emojong over the shooting dead of Swaliki Lwayanga, 30 and injuring two others during the second day of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party lower local council elections.

Busoga North Police region spokesperson, Michael Kasadha, on May 7, 2025, told New Vision Online that the injured were Ivan Oketch, a resident of Bulanga Central and Peterson Nabugo, a resident of Waina village, Baitambogwe sub-county in Mayuge district.

Kasadha said the incident occurred at Noor Islamic Primary Teachers College playground at Luswiga zone, Nantamu ward, Bulanga town council in Luuka district.

The incident occurred after voting failed to take place on May 6, 2025, due to violence at the polling station. A repeat of the vote was scheduled for today, May 7, but was again marred by violence and chaos.

Amidst the scuffle, the Police, led by the officer in charge of operations, tried to calm the situation in vain. He said this was after one candidate mobilised youth from other areas to demand that the presiding officer declare a one Sulaimani Isebo as the winner.

He explained that the charged youths threw stones towards the Police while threatening the presiding officer. This prompted the Police officers to discharge bullets under the tense situation, leaving one person dead and injuring two others.

“During the process of transporting the deceased to Iganga for a postmortem, Sergeant Noah Khaleke, attached to Luuka Police Station, was injured on the eye by the stone-pelting mob. He has been referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for further management,” Kasadha said.

However, the Police didn’t disclose the name of the presiding officer arrested to aid in investigating the suspected murder. He, however, assured the community that justice would be served and urged residents to remain calm and respect each other’s political choices.

Kasadha, who condemned the violence, stated that investigations are ongoing, “we have deployed additional officers to the area, and we are working to apprehend those responsible for instigating the violence because right now political elections have started until next year, where our people need to be protected.

Kasadha warned that those interfering with the electoral process or security operations would be arrested and prosecuted. He added that similar incidents of violence were reported in other parts of the region.

He said in Kamuli district, some villagers allegedly fled with voter registers, and Police are pursuing those responsible, while in Buyende district, election-related clashes were also reported.

He called upon the NRM supporters to remain calm and maintain peace since these are in-house party activities.

Supporter murdered

Meanwhile, in a related incident in Mayuge, six people have been arrested following the murder of Peter Kaluya, a supporter of Isaac Isabirye, shortly after he was announced in Bulubude Village, Malongo sub-county.

Busoga East police spokesperson Michael Kafayo said the suspects, believed to be supporters of a rival candidate, attempted to seize declaration forms from the village registrar, where Kaluya intervened and was fatally beaten.

The suspects now in custody and soon facing murder charges in court are Abdula Mateeka, Abdul Karim Kiwanuka, Jamiru Opili, Yasin Tibita, Halima Nabirye and Aisha Mutesi. They are all residents of Bulubude village in Malongo sub-county.

This wave of violence reflects broader unrest during the NRM party primaries held on Tuesday across the Busoga region and the country at large.

The elections, which took place at over 72,000 gazetted polling stations nationwide, are intended to select local council leaders to form grassroots committees under the guidance of NRM National Chairperson President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.