The Country Director of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), Primus Atukwatse Bahiigi, has called for stronger safeguards for citizens’ rights during the ongoing election campaigns, saying peaceful participation must be guaranteed for all Ugandans regardless of political affiliation.
Speaking on NBS Frontline on Thursday, Bahiigi stressed the importance of protecting human dignity and ensuring that political competition does not compromise citizens’ safety.
“Peaceful elections should be a choice of every citizen of this country, irrespective of their political affiliation. The dignity of a Ugandan should be our first concern,” he said.
His remarks follow public outrage over the conduct of security forces at the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential campaign rally in Kawempe on Tuesday.
Videos shared online and widely reported by the media showed police deploying hound-type dogs against supporters of NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi.
The images captured the dogs lunging toward civilians, creating fear and prompting renewed criticism of crowd-control methods used during political events.
The deployment of dogs was accompanied by other aggressive measures, including pepper spray, forceful arrests and confrontations with police vehicles.
Civil society actors and election observers have warned that such actions risk deepening mistrust and shrinking the country’s democratic space ahead of the elections.
Kawempe is the latest in a growing list of disruptions at NUP campaign activities. Party officials have reported violent confrontations with security personnel in Mukono and Buikwe, while in Busoga, Bugisu, Lango and Ankole, several supporters were arrested during or after campaign engagements.
The party says that more than 300 of its supporters have been detained nationwide in recent weeks.
Addressing the escalating tensions, Bahiigi reiterated the need for professionalism within security agencies and respect for citizens’ constitutional rights.
“All Ugandans, regardless of political affiliation, deserve to exercise their political freedoms without fear. Election-related violence only undermines the democratic process and the rule of law,” he said.