Police in Kwania Deny Brutality Allegations During Apire LC2 Polls.

14 August 2026, 12:54 am

By Hillary Opio Omara

KWANIA DISTRICT – Tensions between the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) in Kwania District have escalated following a disputed LC2 election in Apire Parish,with police arresting five people over allegations of assault,malicious damage to property and incitement to violence.

The arrests followed clashes that erupted during the election of the Apire LC2 chairperson,prompting a heavy police deployment to maintain peace and order.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on Matters of National Importance yesterday,Kwania District Woman Member of Parliament Kenny Auma Lapat accused security and local government officials of allowing political tensions to interfere with the electoral process.

Auma said she had earlier raised concerns in Parliament about what she described as growing political tensions in Kwania, particularly in Apire Parish,where she alleged that individuals were being mobilised to disrupt elections.

According to Auma,UPC initially won eight polling stations,while the NRM won only three.

She alleged that the parish electoral supervisor later arrived at the polling exercise accompanied by security and political officials,including Deputy RDC Abraham Aturu,Kwania District Police Commander SP Paul Kadoogo,the NRM District Registrar and members of the NRM Workers’ League.

Auma further alleged that during the voting exercise,the Deputy RDC entered the polling area and began interfering with the process,allegedly insisting that voters should support the NRM candidate.

She called on the Minister for the Presidency to take action against the Deputy RDC, arguing that government officials should not be used to influence electoral outcomes or reverse the gains made by the UPC in Kwania.

However,Emmanuel Opio Okello,the NRM Registrar for Kwania District,dismissed Auma’s allegations,saying the NRM has not violated electoral laws.

Opio said the NRM performed strongly in the recent parish elections,winning 37 positions compared to nine won by the UPC across Kwania.

He challenged Auma to focus on development issues affecting residents instead of what he described as political allegations based on a single parish election.

Opio also pointed to challenges facing residents,including healthcare,education, roads,agricultural programmes and unemployment.

He said that,apart from Aduku Sub-county, where the NRM won five positions out of six parishes,the party had performed strongly across the district.

The North Kyoga Regional Police Commander,SP Patrick Jimmy Okema,said police were investigating allegations of violence and destruction of property arising from the Apire election.

Okema said trouble allegedly started after a group of people accused another person of interfering with the electoral process and inciting violence.

Police said two individuals,identified as Ekaa Anna and Ambrose Okello,were among those reportedly injured during the clashes.

Five Arrested Over Election Violence
Kwania District Police Commander SP Paul Kadoogo said police deployed heavily during the election to prevent further violence and urged supporters of all political parties to respect the electoral process.

Kadoogo said police arrested Otoo Samuel, 51,of Apire “A”,who is accused of allegedly setting fire to a grass-thatched structure during the clashes.

He said Dickens Ogwal,the LC2 Area Councillor for Apire Parish,was also arrested in connection with the violence.

According to police,the clashes resulted in the destruction of several properties and injuries to four civilians and two police officers.

Kadoogo said five suspects had so far been arrested in connection with the case, including Patrick Oruru,22,of Teopok,Ebong Tom,51,of Alongomula,and Tonny Otim,22,of Angolenyanga in Apire Parish,Aduku Sub-county.

Our news desks tried to get a comments from Deputy RDC of Kwania district but it wasn’t available at the press time.

The election results showed Moro Tom of UPC winning the Apire LC2 chairperson position with 68 vot