Kampala, Uganda: President Museveni’s Senior Advisor on Buganda Affairs, Al Hajji Abdul Nadduli, has urged Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba to take full responsibility for the conduct of security personnel during the ongoing electoral process, warning that continued abuses could have serious consequences for the country and the ruling NRM government.
Nadduli expressed strong disappointment over what he called excessive and violent actions by police officers against opposition supporters, particularly those backing National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
He cited repeated incidents of harassment, beatings, teargas attacks and the destruction of supporters’ clothing, saying the conduct of security forces was harming the public and eroding trust between the government and citizens in Buganda.
“I see elections are not as smooth with the opposition, especially NUP, as they are with my party, NRM. Byakagaba needs to talk to his men before it’s too late,” Nadduli said.
He cautioned the IGP against ignoring ongoing violations, warning that he would personally be held accountable in the future. “Byakagaba, what will you tell the people of Uganda when this government you are working for, and hurting people with, is no more? What will you tell families that have lost loved ones?” he asked.
Nadduli noted that social media was documenting and preserving evidence of abuse, making it “impossible for those responsible to escape accountability.”
“I appeal to you, IGP, to take action because we didn’t sacrifice our lives in the 1980s to see our grandchildren dying in a joking way,” he said.
He also condemned what he described as deliberate attempts to push Kyagulanyi into remote areas, arguing the move was intended to suppress his visibility among urban supporters. “I call this internal mobilisation, because if you push Kyagulanyi to remote areas, you are giving him a chance to be seen by those in remote areas,” he said.
Nadduli warned that such actions were further damaging the NRM’s already declining support in Buganda, a region he said still has unresolved long-standing grievances.
“NRM is trying hard to win back the hearts of Buganda people, but there are issues still pending that need to be fixed. President Museveni must arrange a dialogue with all stakeholders to resolve them,” he said.
He also raised alarm over security operatives allegedly hiding number plates during election operations, saying the practice undermines accountability and public confidence. Nadduli urged the IGP to immediately reverse the trend to ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral environment.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
