Busia, Uganda: Authorities in Busia District are investigating circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of President Museveni’s youth mobiliser by a Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldier attached to Minister John Mulimba during violent clashes among National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters in Busia District.
The deceased, Aaron Mukisa, a resident of Nawante village in Namungodi Town Council, was killed at about 6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, as rival NRM-leaning groups clashed in Samia North constituency.
Mukisa’s family said he was shot at close range by a UPDF soldier guarding the Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, John Mulimba, who is also the incumbent Member of Parliament for Samia North.
The shooting triggered further violence, leaving a supporter of Samia North independent candidate John Paul Wandera, identified only as Ndeke, in critical condition after he was beaten by rival supporters. Wandera is contesting as an Independent after losing the NRM flag to Mulimba.
Another victim, Peter Simwero, a local DJ in Namungodi Town Council, sustained head injuries after he was allegedly stabbed with a bayonet by a soldier.
Robert Osinya, another supporter, said the attack occurred minutes before 7:00 pm as they gathered at Wandera’s office in Namungodi Town Council. “We were at the office when the minister’s convoy, escorted by police patrol cars, a UPDF vehicle and supporters on motorcycles, arrived at the trading centre,” Osinya said.
He alleged that Mulimba’s supporters, armed with stones and sticks, attacked them before soldiers fired shots in the air and beat Wandera’s supporters, many of whom were wearing NRM T-shirts.
Osinya said one soldier singled out Mukisa and repeatedly beat him as he pleaded for his life. “He had already surrendered due to the beatings. I heard him cry, ‘I am a supporter of President Museveni, don’t beat me, don’t shoot me,’” Osinya said.
According to him, the soldier then cocked his gun and shot Mukisa before fleeing and jumping onto a waiting military truck that sped away.
Mukisa’s body, clad in a yellow T-shirt bearing President Museveni’s portrait, was left on the roadside in a pool of blood as the convoy departed.
Efforts to reach Mulimba for comment were unsuccessful, with repeated calls to his known phone numbers going unanswered. But sources close to him (the minister) claimed Mukisa had pelted a soldier with stones, prompting the shooting.“He pelted the soldier with stones; that is why he was shot,” a source said.
Osinya rejected the claim, saying Mukisa was non-violent. “He was a humble young man and never involved in any act of violence,” he said.
The shooting occurred as Mulimba’s team was returning from a campaign rally in Mayombe.
The Samia North race has grown increasingly tense as campaigns enter the final stretch ahead of the January 15, 2026, polls. Mulimba faces strong challenges from Independent candidate John Paul Wandera, popularly known as Team Nkolerawo, and John Okumu Emurut. All three contenders are NRM-leaning.
Kenneth Ojambo, a resident of Namungodi Town Council who joined NRM from the National Unity Platform last year, said he is reconsidering his support following Mukisa’s killing. “When soldiers shoot innocent people campaigning for President Museveni simply for not supporting the minister, then there is a serious problem,” he said.
A family member, John Maholo, called for government action. “President Museveni should investigate why a soldier would recklessly shoot an innocent young man,” he said.
Namungodi Town councillor Stanley Wejuli described the killing as barbaric and politically damaging. “Shooting an innocent young man for not supporting Mr Mulimba is sad and meant to hurt NRM and the President,” Wejuli said.
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