Museveni warns against election violence as NRM tackles internal dissent

18 December 2025, 8:40 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer, has warned Ugandans against engaging in violence during and after the general elections, stating that the state will not tolerate any form of lawlessness.

Speaking yesterday in Kisozi while addressing the nation, Museveni responded to concerns raised by moderator Ronald Africa regarding recent slogans by National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters, particularly the “Kanoonye – Kakuume – Kalonde – Tovvaawo” campaign, commonly referred to as the “protest vote,” initiated by the party leadership.

Museveni dismissed claims attributed to NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi that the police force is overstretched compared to the number of potential protesters. He warned that security agencies are capable of handling any unrest.

“No one can destabilise Uganda. I heard Kyagulanyi say that the number of police officers is few and that the rioters are many. Please don’t listen to what Kyagulanyi is saying. One gun of one police officer has 120 bullets, so do the math. Whoever tries to break the law will be arrested and jailed. There is nothing they can do that we cannot do,” Museveni said.

The president concluded his Greater Mubende campaign in Kasanda District, where he criticised voters for supporting opposition candidates. According to Museveni, such voting patterns have affected the district’s access to government programmes because the district chairperson is not from the NRM. During the same engagement, local leaders raised concerns about the lack of clean water in many parts of Kasanda.

Museveni is expected to continue his campaign in Masaka City today, while the other seven presidential candidates also proceed with their campaigns in different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi condemned the decision to block him from holding a rally in Katakwi District. He described the move as unfair while addressing his supporters at a second venue in Northern Uganda.

In a related development within the NRM, the party’s Member of Parliament for Arua City, Atima Jackson Lee Buti, yesterday convened a conciliation meeting involving the party’s Director of Finance and Administration and the Central Division party structures. The meeting aimed to resolve internal disagreements involving Hajjat Madinah, the party’s finance official.

During the meeting, Hajjat Madinah issued a stern warning against party indiscipline, particularly the support of independent candidates.

“You are actually supposed to be dismissed from the party. We are just being lenient with you. Don’t take us for granted. This should serve as a warning to everyone. We shall remove anyone who is either standing as, or supporting, any independent candidate against the party flag bearers,” she said.

Madinah later accepted an apology from her colleagues and pledged to work together for the good of the party. The NRM has repeatedly urged its members to support official party flag bearers and refrain from backing independent candidates, although some members have continued to defy this directive.