The campaign trail had barely warmed up before the first signs of trouble began to surface. What should have been a season of orderly political expression has instead become a magnet for opportunists, saboteurs, and criminals weaving themselves into the surging crowds.
The Uganda Police Force spokesperson, Rusoke Kituuma described the unfolding situation as a “dangerous mix of politics and crime,” warning that some groups were already using campaign activities as cover for theft, cyber-attacks, and orchestrated disorder.
“We are seeing individuals disguising themselves in party T-shirts to blend in with supporters,” he said while addressing journalists at the joint secuity weekly briefing at the police headquarters in Naguru, in Nakawa Divison, Kampala today Novermber 24, 2025.
“Their aim is simple: rob unsuspecting people of phones, cash, and anything they can grab. We are not tolerating this, and our teams have been deployed to deal with them decisively,” he added.
Authorities say the chaos often begins long before the candidates reach their venues. Rival groups have clashed on the roads, vehicles overloaded with chanting supporters weave dangerously through traffic, and a few reckless drivers have even attempted to convert ambulances into unofficial campaign escorts.
Kituuma dismissed the practice as both illegal and reckless. “An ambulance is a life-saving vehicle, not a campaign tool,” he emphasized.
While the crowds cheer, darker activity stirs in the background. Posters are being defaced under cover of night, a quiet form of political sabotage that sometimes escalates into street fights.
Online, cyber-criminals have found their own battleground, spreading malicious content and targeting campaign structures. According to Kituuma, the offenders “should know the law is very clear, and the punishments are severe.”
Behind every rally stage and procession-less gathering point, police units stand ready, traffic officers managing dangerous surges of vehicles, fire brigade teams on alert, and emergency responders anticipating the worst. Coordination with candidates has become more critical than ever, as authorities try to keep the political season from descending into chaos.
Kituuma warned that: “Anyone who commits an offense during these campaigns will be individually held responsible. Even if they escape in the moment, we will find them later. No one should mistake a crowd for a shield.”
