Allegations of Military-Mediated Electoral Fraud Surface in Ugandan Parliamentary Race
A defeated independent candidate in Uganda’s recent parliamentary elections has launched severe accusations against the country’s military and the family of President Yoweri Museveni, claiming the vote was stolen through systematic violence and ballot rigging.
Jet John Tumwebaze, an advocate and son of a former commander in the National Resistance Army (NRA), lost to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Sodo Kaguta—a stepbrother of President Museveni—in the Mawogola North constituency elections held on January 14-15, 2026.
In a detailed statement posted on social media, Tumwebaze declared, “the power of the gun triumphed over the power of the ballot,” alleging that Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers were deployed not to protect voters, but to intimidate them.
Detailed Allegations of Brutality and Ballot Stuffing
Tumwebaze’s account describes a day of chaos and violence. He claims that by 10 a.m. on voting day, UPDF troops had taken over most polling stations, chased away his polling agents, and assaulted supporters. He accuses soldiers and accompanying “goons” of seizing ballot papers from officials, marking them in favor of the NRM candidate, and stuffing them into boxes “in broad daylight.”
Furthermore, he states that at many stations, ballot papers were deliberately exhausted by late morning, disenfranchising his supporters who arrived later to vote. Tumwebaze directly implicated the President’s three stepbrothers—Toyota, Nzeire, and Sodo Kaguta—in orchestrating and supervising the operation.
A Stark Historical Warning and Accusations of a Black Market
Invoking a grave historical parallel, Tumwebaze quoted the post-World War II poem by German pastor Martin Niemöller, which reflects on the consequences of silent complicity with authoritarianism. “This experience reminds me of the words of a famous German writer during Nazi time,” he wrote.
He also made the explosive claim that ballot papers were available for purchase on the “black market” in Ssembabule, and that someone from the Electoral Commission had contacted him on the eve of the election offering to sell them.
Response and Planned Action
While the victorious NRM candidate, Sodo Kaguta, has celebrated his win and some critics have dismissed Tumwebaze as a “sore loser,” the allegations underscore deepening tensions within Uganda’s political landscape, where the NRM holds overwhelming dominance.
Tumwebaze has ruled out accepting the result. He announced plans for wide consultations with stakeholders in Mawogola North and has chosen to legally challenge the outcome. “We either fold our hands and succumb to the fraud, impunity and brutality… or challenge them. We have chosen the latter,” he stated, framing the fight as a civic duty.
The accusations highlight ongoing concerns about military involvement in politics and the integrity of electoral processes in Uganda, following a pattern of nationwide setbacks for opposition forces. The situation remains unresolved as Tumwebaze prepares his next move.
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