By Jamillah Kemigisa
Authorities in Bunyangabu District have announced a sweeping crackdown on dangerous campaign convoys, citing a troubling spike in road accidents and fatalities linked to chaotic political processions. The new directive, which takes effect on June 26, 2025, aims to restore order and safeguard lives during the heated campaign season ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The move follows police reports indicating that no political procession held so far has ended without injuries, with at least seven lives lost, most of them motorcycle riders or passengers.
In a high-level security meeting convened in Kibiito Town Council, the district leadership—led by NRM District Chairperson-elect Kato Husein, Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Kamukama Nicholas Kaine, and the District Security Committee—rolled out a set of temporary but strict campaign convoy regulations.
The meeting was attended by political aspirants, their campaign agents, the chairperson of the Bunyangabu Motorcycle Riders Association, and security officials.
Key Measures in the Directive:
- Motorcycle convoys for political processions are strictly banned.
- No motorcycle is allowed to carry more than two people.
- Stunt riding, hands-free riding, or carrying individuals standing or seated on shoulders is prohibited and punishable.
- Motorcycles with obscured or unreadable number plates will be impounded.
- Lorries are banned from transporting supporters; only taxis and buses are allowed, and must not exceed passenger limits.
- Individuals, not political candidates, will be held personally liable for any violations.
RDC Nicholas Kamukama Kaine delivered a blunt warning to political supporters and riders who have turned campaign trails into high-risk spectacles.
“We are tired of deaths. People are overloading taxis, standing on motorcycles, and even riding hands-free. Some old women, girls, and even the candidates themselves have been seen dangerously standing on motorcycles. This recklessness must stop,” he said.
Kamukama stressed that preliminary investigations show that 90% of the fatalities involved individuals who were in violation of Uganda’s traffic laws.
“The road is not a circus. This is an election season, not a festival of recklessness,” he declared, adding that security forces would begin photographing and tracking offenders for arrest even after rallies end.
Offenders who alter or hide number plates to evade identification will face immediate action, he added.
NRM District Chairperson-elect Kato Husein backed the directive, particularly condemning the use of open trucks to ferry supporters.
“We’ve seen people sitting on the top angles of trucks—any slight turn or brake, and they fall. From now on, only buses and taxis are allowed, and they must carry passengers within the legal limit,” he stated.
Kato emphasized that the new regulations are not politically targeted, but are about enforcing accountability.
“Let it be clear: any supporter who breaks these rules will be charged personally. No one will hide behind a candidate. These guidelines are not a political weapon—they are a tool to protect lives,” he said.
While some campaign teams expressed concern that banning motorcycle convoys could reduce visibility, many in the community applauded the move as long overdue.
“We’ve buried too many young men from boda-boda accidents during rallies. These guidelines are necessary,” said Moses Kule, a boda-boda stage chairperson in Kabonero.
With these new measures in force, Bunyangabu District is positioning itself as a national model for safe and responsible political campaigning.
“We can campaign, but we don’t have to die doing it,” RDC Kamukama concluded.
