According to both official and local reports, at least 12 people have been confirmed dead and several dozen injured in massive clashes that broke out all over Uganda following Thursday’s fiercely contested presidential election.
However, the most violent incidents have taken place in the central districts and Kampala, where the discontent over the election results provocatively quickened the violent confrontation between security agents and the supporters of the opposition.
The turmoil started on the day of the election and surged over Friday and Saturday, with Butambala District being the center of super violence. Regional police commander Lydia Katushabe stated that seven people were killed by security forces after riots broke out near the centers of vote counting—a statement that is not accepted by the local politicians.
Apart from the above-mentioned deaths, there have been reports of casualties in Luweero and Kalungu districts, where violence left at least five more dead. According to the residents, protests in the Makindye area of Kampala also turned violent, as the protesters blocked the main roads with burning trash and fought with the police that were trying to restore order.
The bloodshed has highlighted the conflicts of political views that were growing anyway, considering the election that resulted in incumbent President Yoweri Museveni being given a huge early lead with over 61 percent of provisional votes counted, while opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a.k.a. Bobi Wine, was way behind.
In Kayunga District, followers of an opposing candidate held a demonstration against the local tally, and there are reports that they invaded and set ruling party offices on fire before security forces intervened. The clashes have led to arbitrary arrests, and the police have charged many people with assaulting officers, leading to their detention.
Civil society and rights groups have criticized the security forces’ actions and called for restraint and independent monitoring of the clashes. The civil society coalition, which works across Africa, has asked the government to eliminate the alleged militias that have kidnapped the detainees and to set them free, thereby pointing to the increasing concern in the region about violence and political repression.
The counting continues under the deeply polarized atmosphere, and there are still heavy security deployments in the areas where the disturbances occurred. The number of confirmed dead is one of the highest episodes of post-election unrest in Uganda in recent years, which raises very serious questions about political stability and the future of the nation’s democratic process.
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