10 Ugandan Opposition Supporters Killed in Pre-Dawn Raid During Election Day

A senior Ugandan opposition member says security forces stormed his home on election day, shooting dead 10 of his campaign team members. Muwanga Kivumbi, a member of parliament for the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Butambala district, central Uganda, told AFP on Friday that the attack occurred on Thursday as the country held general elections under an internet blackout.

According to Kivumbi, hundreds of supporters had gathered at his compound after voting ended. Security forces stormed the residence, forcing many to flee. Officers then fired through a garage door where 10 campaign agents were hiding. Kivumbi's wife, law professor Zahara Nampewo, witnessed the attack and confirmed the death toll of 10 from a local hospital after security forces removed the bodies.

However, local police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe gave a conflicting account, claiming "a group of NUP goons" planned to attack a local tally centre and police station. She said an unspecified number were "put out of action" and 25 others were arrested and charged with malicious damage to property.

The incident occurred during elections where rights groups accused President Yoweri Museveni, seeking to extend his 40-year rule, of "brutal repression" against the opposition. The government imposed an internet blackout during voting, preventing images from the scene. Nampewo said the couple remains anxious as security forces have redeployed around their home.

For Ugandans following the election, this violence underscores the extreme risks opposition supporters face. The internet blackout and conflicting official accounts make independent verification difficult, leaving citizens to navigate conflicting narratives about political violence.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/16/security-forces-kill-10-in-uganda-opposition-mps-home/