It is exactly five years today since more than 50 people were massacred during the presidential campaign protests in Kampala metropolitan and other parts of the country. The dozens of people were shot to death by security forces quashing protests that followed the arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.
Kyagulanyi was arrested at his campaign venue at Ssaza ground, Luuka district, in Busoga Sub-region by police commanded by then Commissioner of Police –CP Frank Mwesigwa. Kyagulanyi was detained at infamous Nalufenya police stations near the source of River Nile, in Jinja City.
Several local and international human rights and election monitoring organisations such as European Union (EU) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) dubbed the election as the most violent in the country’s presidential electoral process.
“…whereas the run-up to the 2020 Ugandan presidential elections was marred by violence, with opposition candidates, civil society organisations (CSOs), human rights defenders, electoral experts and journalists facing systematic oppression and intimidation when exercising their legitimate rights; whereas the excessive use of force by law enforcement and security agencies seriously tarnished the electoral process;” EU stated in a statement issued on Feb 11, 2021.
The HRW said that security forces used excuses of breaching regulations that had been put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to clamp down on opposition voices. “Police responded to crowds of people protesting Kyagulanyi’s detention with teargas, beatings and live bullets leading to at least 54 deaths,” HRW stated on Jan 21, 2021.
A lot has changed since 2020. The changes have majorly affected commanders of the security forces that participated in the quashing and killing protesters. For instance, CP Mwesigwa, who commanded Kyagulanyi’s arrest has since been promoted twice from Senior Commissioner of Police –SCP to the highest rank in the Uganda Police force of Assistant Inspector General of Police –AIGP.
Uganda Police Force was then under the command of Martin Okoth Ochola as the Inspector General of Police –IGP and deputised by Maj Gen Stephen Muzeeyi Sabiiti. Ochola has since retired and was replaced by Abas Byakagaba in 2024.
Maj Gen Sabiiti was a few weeks after the campaign massacre replaced with Maj Gen Paul Lokech. The latter served for only months in the police force and died abruptly as a result of blood clot. He was replaced by Maj Gen Geoffrey Kasitgazi Tumusiime who also acted as IGP after the retirement of Ochola. Currently, IGP Byakagaba is deputised by James Ochaya.
In the Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF, Gen David Muhoozi, who was the Chief of Defence Forces –was dropped and replaced with his deputy Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi. Gen Muhoozi is currently serving as the State Minister for Internal Affairs.
Gen Mbadi was also dropped last year alongside his deputy Lt Gen Peter Elwelu and they were respectively replaced with Gen Muhoozi Kainerugana and Lt Gen Sam Okiding. Gen Mbadi is now serving as State Minister for Trade while Lt Gen Elwelu was retired from the Army.
Other notable changes in the last five years include KMP Police Commander, Stephen Tanui, has since been promoted to AIGP and now serving as director Fire and Emergency Response. UPDF Spokespersons, Brig Gen Richard Karemire and his deputy Col Deo Akiiki have since been replaced. The two offices are currently occupied by Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye and Col Henry Obbo. Brig Gen Karemire now serves as director Education services in UPDF while Col Akiiki is a military assistant to CDF Gen Kainerugaba.
In UPF, SCP Fred Enanga and his deputy CP Polly Namaye have respectfully been replaced with ACP Kituuma Rusoke and SSP Diana Nandawula. SCP Enanga is deputy director Interpol while CP Namaye is in charge of peace and support operations.
In CMI, Maj Gen Abel Kandiho, was dropped and replaced with Maj Gen James Birungi. The former was appointed as Chief of Joint Staff –CJS in UPF but has since been taken back to the army with no clear assignment. Maj Gen Kandiho’s replacer, Maj Gen Birungi, is also currently detained at Makindye Military barracks over fake bombs in Kampala.
Despite the mass killings during the presidential campaigns in 2020, no security personnel was arrested and charged over these deaths. Joel Ssenyonyo, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, said: “On this day 5 years ago, dozens of people were massacred by Uganda’s military in Kampala and neighboring towns, and to-date justice has never been served to the bereaved families.”
Ssenyonyi said the killings on November 18th and 19th November 2020 left scars “on our land, the kind similar to many other injustices that have over the years been occasioned on Ugandans. One thing is for sure, justice will one day be served!”
The deadly presidential campaign violence happened in the second week of the campaigns. Today, more than 60 days have gone without serious incidents of violence unleashed by security forces against opposition supporters.
Mubarak Munyagwa, contesting for president on CMP ticket said it is too early to celebrate because police and other security agencies have been blocking them from accessing certain urban areas. According to Munyagwa, if such acts continue, it will provoke the masses to engage in confrontations with security and it could evoke incidents of violence similar to those of 2020.