Former district chairperson Fred Nyenje Kayiira and several National Unity Platform leaders allege threats, intimidation and politically motivated charges following the 2026 elections, while police have urged anyone facing criminal allegations to report to the nearest station.
Several National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders in Bukomansimbi District, including former LC5 chairperson Fred Nyenje Kayiira, have reportedly gone into hiding, citing fears of arrest, intimidation and further violence following the 2026 general elections.
The leaders allege that they have been followed, threatened and pursued over criminal charges they believe are politically motivated and linked to their opposition activities.
The Nile Post could not independently verify the claims.
Among those reportedly affected are Muhammad Musa Kigongo, the NUP district spokesperson; Ssebuufu Mubarak, the party’s deputy secretary general and former district vice chairperson; Jimmy Walugembe, the party’s treasurer in Butenga Town Council; Denis Muweesi Ntesibe, the district secretary; and Deo Lubega, the NUP secretary in Butenga Town Council.
According to family members, some of the leaders have left their homes and sought refuge with relatives, while others have concealed their whereabouts over concerns for their safety.
The reported flight of the opposition figures has raised questions about political security in the district, with the affected leaders maintaining that electoral defeat or disputes should not expose them to threats or unlawful detention.
Police, however, have said political affiliation alone should not expose anyone to surveillance or police action and have urged those facing criminal allegations to report to the nearest station and cooperate with investigators.
Nyenje and several of his colleagues have been involved in opposition politics since 2011, when they began their political careers under the Democratic Party (DP).
Their political prominence in Bukomansimbi grew in 2021, when they joined NUP and contested various leadership positions under the party’s ticket.
Nyenje became a prominent opposition figure through his bid for, and leadership of, the Bukomansimbi District LC5 chairperson’s office.
The 2021 election period was reportedly marked by violence and intimidation involving opposition candidates and their supporters. Nyenje is said to have been severely beaten during the period, allegedly by security personnel, leaving him unconscious.
He was subsequently declared the loser in the district chairperson’s race. Several of his political associates were also reportedly arrested and detained over charges they described as fabricated and politically motivated.
The affected leaders say those incidents marked the beginning of persistent concerns about their safety and freedom to participate in politics.
The leaders allege that tensions escalated during the 2026 general elections, when Nyenje and his colleagues attempted to challenge what they described as ballot stuffing and other electoral irregularities in the Bukomansimbi LC5 chairperson’s race.
According to their account, Nyenje was again severely beaten and lost consciousness during the election period. They allege that security personnel carried out the assault under the direction of politicians affiliated with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
These allegations, including the alleged involvement of security personnel and ruling-party politicians, have not been independently verified.
Other NUP leaders, including Ssebuufu Mubarak and Jimmy Walugembe, who contested the Butenga Town Council mayoral race, were also reportedly affected by confrontations during the elections.
The leaders further allege that some of their belongings, including mobile phones, were confiscated and that vehicles were damaged during incidents in which they attempted to challenge what they described as electoral malpractice.
It remains unclear whether formal complaints were lodged over the alleged assaults, confiscation of property and damage to vehicles, or whether investigations have been opened into the incidents.
Since the elections, the affected politicians say they have struggled to resume their normal lives, with some avoiding their homes and keeping their movements private.
They allege that criminal charges have been pursued against them and that they have continued to face surveillance and intimidation.
The concerns reportedly extend beyond the party leadership, with several young people from different parts of the district allegedly being picked up and questioned about their associations with Nyenje.
The leaders fear that their political connections could expose them to further arrests or violence. Some have expressed concern about possible abductions or detention, prompting them to avoid their usual residences.
They maintain that disputes arising from the elections should be resolved through lawful procedures rather than intimidation or violence.
However, details of the criminal charges reportedly facing the leaders, including the specific offences alleged and the status of any court proceedings, were not provided in the account.
Police urge cooperation with investigations
Bukomansimbi District Police have said no politician should be targeted for surveillance or police action solely because of their political affiliation.
Police have advised anyone who believes they are being threatened to formally report the matter, while those who may be implicated in criminal cases have been urged to report to the nearest police station and cooperate with investigators.
The police position places emphasis on the use of established legal procedures to resolve complaints and investigate alleged offences.
However, the reported fears among the NUP leaders remain, and it is unclear whether police have investigated the alleged election-related assaults, threats, confiscation of property or damage to vehicles.
The allegations also raise questions about whether the affected politicians can access the authorities safely and obtain clear information about any criminal cases involving them.
For the leaders reportedly in hiding, the immediate concern is personal safety and whether they can return home without fear of arrest, intimidation or further violence.
The developments in Bukomansimbi underscore the importance of transparent investigations into allegations of political violence and assurances that criminal investigations are conducted on the basis of evidence rather than political affiliation.