Tension gripped Ntungamo Municipality on Sunday evening after police dispersed supporters of John Kabeeho Kigungu, an aspirant for the Ntungamo District chairperson seat in the 2026 general election, following protests over disputed election results.
Kabeeho, who contested on an independent ticket, was taken away by police after security personnel fired gunshots in the air to scatter his supporters, who had gathered to demand justice over alleged irregularities in the recently concluded polls.
The demonstration, which initially started peacefully, turned chaotic as crowds swelled in the town centre, particularly around Kabeeho's office, prompting the deployment of police.
Kabeeho is challenging the victory of incumbent chairperson Samuel Mucunguzi Rwakigoba, who was declared winner by the Electoral Commission after securing 84,903 votes against Kabeeho's 80,465.
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Dissatisfied with the outcome, Kabeeho rejected the results and called for a recount or fresh elections in at least 24 polling stations whose results were cancelled out of the total 812 across the district.
Speaking to his supporters before being taken away by police, Kabeeho alleged widespread electoral malpractice and intimidation during the voting exercise.
"There was intimidation using guns. There was ballot stuffing, and some of my agents were kidnapped. There was vote rigging and multiple voting at almost all polling stations. We need a recount of the ballot papers and cross-checking of all declaration forms. We need justice," Kabeeho said.
He added that legal action was imminent. "We shall go to court tomorrow. We need to defend ourselves. We need justice and order. It is Kabeeho today, tomorrow it will be another person. Do you want another person also to be manipulated?" he said.
Kabeeho also expressed concern over what he described as growing corruption in the country. "The country is dying of corruption. We must stand up and fight for what is right," he said.
Questioning the credibility of the declared results, Kabeeho posed a rhetorical challenge to electoral officials.
"How can you win in almost all sub-counties and another candidate gets declared winner? We need justice and we must recover our win," he said.
