The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Pallisa, Mr. Dhikusooka Magid, has commended the Uganda Police Force in Bukedi North for what he described as a timely and coordinated response in preventing Common Man’s Party presidential candidate Mubarak Munyagwa from accessing restricted areas within Pallisa Town on Saturday.
Dhikusooka said the move by police to block Munyagwa from entering the open Saturday market, taxi park, industrial area, and hospital zones was a necessary security measure aimed at safeguarding both residents and the candidate himself.
“Some wrong elements may blame security for the blockage because they do not understand the risks involved. These are sensitive places where opportunists could have taken advantage of the crowd to cause chaos or steal from vendors,” the RDC said.
“How could this intended hooliganism be entertained in the disguise of a ‘joint tray eating’ with commoners? Even President Museveni holds his rallies in gazetted areas. As Chairman of the District Security Committee, I urge all candidates intending to campaign in Pallisa to harmonize with security early enough so that they are guided to safe venues,” Dhikusooka added.
According to police reports, Munyagwa, who had been scheduled to campaign in Pallisa District the entire day, was denied entry into the market area after he insisted on having lunch with local traders.
Bukedi North Regional Police Commander SSP Bosco Oloro Otim said the police had earlier agreed to provide security for Munyagwa’s activities but were surprised when he diverted from the agreed schedule.
“We had guided him to use Kalaki Primary School grounds as his rally venue. However, he later insisted on going to the park and market, claiming he wanted to share a meal with the locals,” SSP Oloro explained.
“We politely advised him to eat from any hotel, including NYM Hotel where he had already been, but not within the market or park area, which are not gazetted for campaign activities,” he added.
Police spokesperson for Bukedi North Region, ASP Patience Namara, confirmed that Munyagwa had earlier stopped at NYM Hotel along Tirinyi Road for lunch and a brief meeting with his mobilizers.
“From our observations, he might have eaten from there, but later insisted on going to the park for visibility and to ‘connect with ordinary people’. Unfortunately, that could have disrupted business and created unnecessary tension,” Namara noted.
Security reports indicate that at around 2:00 p.m., Munyagwa’s team, including his agents identified as Mubarak and Okoboi John, attempted to change their program without prior communication to police. They reportedly informed security about their campaign venue late, at about 10:30 a.m. on the same day.
Upon reaching the Pallisa roundabout, Munyagwa was intercepted by security personnel and redirected towards the officially gazetted venue at Kalaki Primary School, located along the Pallisa–Kumi Highway in Kaucho Ward, Pallisa Town Council.
In a written statement, ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, the Pallisa District Police Commander, dismissed reports circulating on social media that police had arrested Munyagwa or impounded his campaign vehicles and public address system.
“Contrary to the allegations, police neither arrested Mr. Munyagwa nor confiscated his property. We only provided security guidance and later escorted him to Kalaki Primary School where he addressed a small group of supporters, distributed party caps and vuvuzelas, and held a brief press conference,” Kyempasa clarified.
He added that police had to deploy at all major junctions leading to the park and market areas to prevent crowd convergence that could disrupt public order.
Following the incident, Munyagwa suspended his campaign activities in Pallisa, accusing local security officials of frustrating his presidential bid. He announced plans to petition the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over what he termed as “security overreach.”
“I will formally write to the Electoral Commission to request a rescheduled campaign day for Pallisa. I also intend to meet the IGP to discuss the conduct of certain officers who are seemingly interfering with the democratic process,” Munyagwa said in a brief statement to the press.
He argued that his visit to the market was meant to symbolize his connection with the “common man,” a core value of his party, and accused the authorities of attempting to “sanitize elite politics” by isolating him from ordinary voters.
Despite Munyagwa’s protests, RDC Dhikusooka maintained that security acted professionally and in the interest of public safety.
“The government will not allow any candidate, whether presidential or local, to use public spaces like markets and hospitals for campaign theatrics. Security must ensure safety and order,” he emphasized.
Dhikusooka also reminded candidates to engage district security committees early enough when planning campaign activities, adding that coordination helps avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary confrontations.
As the 2026 general elections draw closer, the incident in Pallisa highlights the growing tension between political candidates seeking voter engagement and
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