Security Postpones UPC Baraza Over Apire Parish Election Violence as they wait for the sanctioning by the Resident State Attorney (RSA) Apac district of more than 5 UPC suspects Arrested

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Security Postpones UPC Baraza Over Apire Parish Election Violence

Security in Kwania District has postponed a planned Baraza organized by the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) to resolve issues arising from the recent LC2 election in Apire Parish, Aduku Sub-county.

The postponement follows disagreements between security officials, as well as UPC and NRM leaders, after violence erupted during the election, resulting in attacks on security personnel, vandalism of a police vehicle and injuries to more than five people.

Police reports from Kwania District indicated that on Monday, at Acut Trading Centre and Bung, Apire Parish, Aduku Sub-county, during the election of the Apire Parish LC2 chairperson, Kwania DPC SP Kadoogo Paul received a phone call reporting chaos between supporters of UPC and NRM.

The DPC, together with the police driver, Deputy Resident District Commissioner Aturo Abraham, the Deputy District Internal Security Officer, the Kwania District Electoral Commission Returning Officer and other police officers, responded swiftly to calm the situation.

However, the chaos escalated resulting in injury of some police officers, locals and vandalism of the police vehicle.

DPC addressed the supporters to keep peace. The Deputy RDC also addressed the people and advised the Electoral Commission Returning Officer to read the names from the register of the voters. Candidates of NRM and UPC stood apart as the voters were lining up behind the candidates of their choices.

Before finishing up reading names of the voters from the register, UPC supporters adorned in red attires began fighting NRM, crossed the line pulling NRM voter from the line to UPC and caused commotion which expanded resulting into fighting.

The Deputy RDC discontinued the election due to the violence caused by UPC supporters and sent away the Electoral Official. The UPC supporters confronted the Deputy RDC from the white Prado vehicle, pulling the vehicle door in order to assault him.

From all over the scene, the UPC supporters armed themselves with stones pelting at the police officers and team of Deputy RDC. Due to the violence, the DPC ordered for the withdraw of the police officers on the patrol car.

The UPC supporters advanced more pelting stones at the officers which hit the DPC on the back and his head resulting into serious head injury which bled profusely. In the commotion UP 7669 front wind screen was smashed and other crews were injured.

Addressing the press at Kwania Resort Hotel Aduku Town Council on Friday 14th August 2026, Emmanuel Opio Okello, the NRM Publicity Secretary for Kwania District, said they had received information from Kwania District Woman MP Kenny Auma about a planned meeting involving NRM leaders, the offices of the DPC and RDC, and the UPDF 5th Division Commander to resolve the issues.

Opio Okello said there was no reason for NRM leaders and their supporters to attend the meeting organized by MP Kenny Auma because UPC supporters had made accusations against them before the DPC and Assistant RDC, yet the matter should first have been handled by leaders at a higher level before being taken to the ground.

Nelson Sadam Abili, the NRM Chairman for Kwania District, said this was the third time MP Kenny Auma had allegedly incited locals to cause chaos of the presidential, LC5 election and now the recent LC2 election.

Ceaser Obada, the Assistant RDC of Kwania District, said the planned Baraza was cancelled in consultation with the RDC and police, while investigations into the incidents that occurred during the Apire Parish election are still ongoing.

Obada said the Baraza cannot take place while six suspects connected to the incident are still in police custody.

Kwania District Woman MP Kenny Auma said her intention was to convene the meeting to find ways of restoring peace and bringing together the leaders who had disagreed following the violence that occurred during the election.

Auma said approximately six UPC supporters were arrested and detained at Kwania Police Station in connection with the incident.

She said although the Baraza had been called off, she would still proceed with another meeting with locals of Apire, where she intends to engage local leaders and seek their views on what should be done.

SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, said police have not received reports about the baraza but only got information concerning the incident in Apire parish and that investigations into the violence are ongoing.

Okema said the investigations are being conducted under Case files of Assault, Malicious damage and incitement to violence vide Kwania SD: 40/10/08/2026, 43/10/08/2026 and GEF: 13/2026 were opened respectively for investigations

He added that police have recorded statements from witnesses and arrested morethan four suspects involved in the violence among the are .

Their case files have since been sanctioned by the Resident State Attorney (RSA) Apac district.