Week one of presidential campaigns progressed well, Police say
“While there were the usual tensions that come with campaigns, those disagreements were resolved. Disagreements are normal — campaigns are large and complex exercises. As long as they are not antagonistic, they can be resolved, and we managed to do that,” Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma says.
Kituuma warned that attempts by some campaign teams to intimidate police by accusing it of partisanship would not deter officers from enforcing the law.
KAMPALA - The first week of the 2026 General Election presidential campaigns generally progressed well across the country, despite isolated tensions and disagreements, Police have said.
“While there were the usual tensions that come with campaigns, those disagreements were resolved. Disagreements are normal — campaigns are large and complex exercises. As long as they are not antagonistic, they can be resolved, and we managed to do that,” Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma says.
Kituuma was addressing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday, October 6, 2025, during the joint weekly media briefing.
He added that some candidates and their teams had disagreed with the Police over campaign rules and routes, often attempting to deviate from previously agreed positions.
“Our main point of disagreement with some candidates was on campaign rules. We would agree with their organising committees on certain arrangements, then find a candidate trying to turn around and go against those agreed positions,” he explained.
Road safety and campaign discipline
Kituuma also referred to a road crash along the Kalaji–Kayunga road reported during the week, which left several people injured.
He attributed it to reckless driving by motorists escorting campaign convoys.
As the second week of campaigns begins, Kituuma urged all presidential candidates to co-ordinate closely with security teams before moving on campaign trails.
“We vividly registered physical injuries, motorists were reckless, and as a result, some ended up knocking each other, leaving others with serious fractures,” he said.
As the second week of campaigns begins, Kituuma urged all presidential candidates to co-ordinate closely with security teams before moving on campaign trails.
“Any candidate going on a campaign trail should ensure that their organising committee is in touch with the security team. Once we agree on a route chart, the officers on the ground will follow those agreed positions without amendment,” he said.
He warned that attempts by some campaign teams to intimidate police by accusing it of partisanship would not deter officers from enforcing the law.
“We’ve seen teams trying to intimidate police by accusing it of being partisan so that we fear doing our cardinal duties. That is not going to happen,” Kituuma said. “Traffic regulations are not suspended, and neither are any other laws of this country. We shall enforce them.”
Kituuma reiterated that while Police prefer engagement and dialogue where possible, it will not hesitate to take firm action when necessary.
“Sometimes we see mistakes, and we do not necessarily need to use an iron hand — because it’s not always true that only an iron hand works,” he noted.
He added, “Where we can engage, we shall engage. But where it calls for the strict application of the law using hard methods, then we shall do that.”