Leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District, have raised concern over what they describe as widespread arrests of their supporters following the recently concluded elections, a situation they say has heightened political tension in the area.
Party officials accuse security agencies of targeting NUP members in a politically motivated crackdown. Police, however, insist the operations are lawful and aimed solely at individuals suspected of criminal activity.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Njeru NUP registrar Fred Kabagambe said several party officials and supporters have either been arrested or forced into hiding amid increased security deployments since the elections.
Kabagambe said he is currently in hiding after security operatives allegedly attempted to arrest him at his residence on Tuesday, February 10.
“Today a team of operatives went to my home, but they did not find me there. I was alerted by my maid and my mother, who told me that security operatives, moving with a drone, went to my home looking for me mid-morning,” Kabagambe said.
He described the developments as an intimidation campaign targeting opposition supporters in the municipality.
Faizo Nanyumba, a former LCIII chairperson aspirant for Njeru Central Division, also claimed that several of his supporters, including individuals who supervised his campaign during the February 4 polls, have been arrested and remanded to Bugungu Government Prison.
Nanyumba alleged that some of those arrested had earlier been involved in apprehending presiding officers they accused of colluding with National Resistance Movement (NRM) officials in alleged ballot stuffing on polling day.
“Most of my campaign supervisors were involved in arresting some presiding officers who were conniving with NRM officials to stuff ballots. It is unfortunate that security has instead turned against us and arrested my people,” Nanyumba said.
He further claimed that his victory was “stolen” in favour of NRM candidate Michael Odeba, who was declared winner amid what he described as widespread electoral irregularities.
Nanyumba cited incidents in which police and army personnel allegedly stormed polling stations and confiscated electoral materials.
Beyond the arrests, NUP leaders also claimed that four people lost their lives in election-related incidents, while several others sustained injuries.
Kabagambe identified one of the deceased as Timothy Lukenge, a relative of Njeru Municipality MP-elect Moses Lukanga Musanje, who he said was killed on January 16, 2025.
He also mentioned a woman identified only as Takia, a curtain trader at Jinja Central Market, and Ali, a son of Hajjat Zam Zam, who reportedly died after inhaling teargas that worsened his asthma condition.
Other party members, including Muhammad Nsubuga and Mercy Nalubega, echoed the concerns and called on security agencies to halt what they termed political persecution.
“They know the truth, but they continue traumatising us, yet we have committed no offences,” one of the leaders said.
However, Ssezibwa Region Police spokesperson Hellen Butoto dismissed the allegations of political bias, insisting that police operations in Njeru are lawful and non-partisan.
“As police, we are non-partisan. The ongoing operations in Njeru are targeting individuals suspected to have committed crimes,” Butoto said.
She did not disclose details of the offences under investigation but emphasised that the operations are intelligence-led and not politically motivated.
The developments have heightened political tension in Njeru Municipality, with opposition leaders demanding transparency and accountability from security agencies, while police maintain that the law will take its course.