MUKONO – Anew twist has emerged in the Mukono North election dispute after electoral offices were reportedly broken into, with allegations that ballot boxes and other election materials may have been tampered with. The incident has raised fresh concerns among political actors and comes at a sensitive time as election petitions across the country enter the hearing stage.
The development was brought to the attention of Mukono Police by the area Member of Parliament, Al Hajji Hon. Abdallah Kiwanuka, under Police Reference No. 109. Police reportedly arrested the EC supervisor of Nama subcounty Mr Sebuguzi Robert, Musoke Muganza and two other individuals in connection with the incident as investigations got underway. The four were later released on police bond as investigations continue.
The latest incident has also brought renewed attention to changes in the administration of the electoral process in Mukono North. Mark Muganza, who had initially served as the returning officer, was reportedly replaced by Emily Amongin a day before the election. The change has now become part of the wider questions surrounding the conduct and management of the disputed election.
The reported break-in is not the first controversy to surround the electoral offices in the constituency. Earlier allegations involving election materials prompted a petition seeking a fresh recount of the votes. However, the application for a recount was later dismissed by court, leaving the broader election dispute to proceed through the legal process.
The development comes as the Judiciary’s previously announced nationwide schedule for hearing election petitions takes effect on September 14, 2026, with petitioners in different constituencies expected to have their matters heard. The Mukono North dispute is among the election cases entering a critical stage, while the latest allegations surrounding the electoral offices add another layer of concern ahead of the court proceedings.
The big question now is: What exactly happened inside the Mukono North electoral offices, were any election materials compromised, and could the latest developments have any bearing on the petition before court? With police investigations ongoing and election petitions entering the hearing stage under the Judiciary’s nationwide schedule, attention is now firmly focused on Mukono North.
