Election violence victims protest outside Masaka High Court

Masaka, Uganda | URN | Dozens of people claiming to be victims of election violence have gathered outside Masaka High Court, demanding justice as hearings of petitions challenging the February 15 parliamentary elections get underway. The group, dressed in yellow overalls bearing portraits of Hellen Nakeeya, the National Resistance Movement-NRM candidate who lost the Kalungu Woman Member of Parliament election, arrived at the court carrying placards with photographs of people they said were killed or injured during the election period.

Some of the placards bore messages including, “We want justice,” “We want fairness from the court,” and “Our people were murdered.” Police, however, deployed anti-riot officers and barricades to prevent the group from entering the court premises, saying their presence could interfere with court proceedings.

Nakeeya lost the Kalungu Woman MP election to incumbent Member of Parliament and State Minister for Water Aisha Ssekindi, who was declared the winner. Among those outside court was Immaculate Namanda, a resident of Lwabenge Sub-county, who said her son, Gerald Katumba, was shot during an election-related confrontation. Namanda said Katumba left behind three children who are now struggling without his support.

Maria Nakayiza, another supporter, said families affected by the violence were struggling to survive and expected the courts to deliver justice. “We want the courts to clearly see what happened in Kalungu. This was not an election but a battlefield against civilians,” Nakayiza said. Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson Twaha Kasirye said police had warned politicians and litigants against mobilising crowds that could disrupt court proceedings.

“We can’t allow anything that can interfere with the court proceedings. We have advised them that whatever their grievances, they should let the courts do their work instead of resorting to drama,” Kasirye said. The protest comes as the High Court begins hearing Nakeeya’s petition challenging Ssekindi’s victory. Nakeeya alleges that the election was marred by irregularities, including voter intimidation, violence against her supporters and the alleged killing of her campaign agents.

She alleges that violence broke out on the eve of the presidential and parliamentary elections when campaign agents linked to Ssekindi confronted her supporters. According to Nakeeya, Gerald Katumba and Frank Muhindo were shot dead during the confrontation, while Yafeesi Ssenabulya and Ismael Kasozi sustained serious injuries. Nakeeya is asking the court to annul Ssekindi’s victory and hold her responsible for the alleged violence.

Ssekindi has denied the allegations, describing some of the claims as fabricated scenes intended to damage her reputation. She says her legal team is prepared to present evidence in court to explain what happened during the election period. The Masaka High Court circuit has 21 election petitions challenging results from constituencies within its jurisdiction, covering 10 districts. The court is expected to hear evidence from the different parties as it determines the various election disputes.