BUSHENYI- As the clock ticks to 2025/26 electoral roadmap, two aspiring parliamentary candidates in the race for Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality MP seat have issued a notice of intention to sue Mr. Lukwago Muhammad, an agent of Hon. David Basajjabalaba, for allegedly vandalizing their campaign posters.
The candidates, Hon. Beimomugisha Godfrey, an aspiring candidate on the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Hon. Ndyakira Nicholas Muheereza, also aspiring on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, allege that on April 5, 2024, Mr. Lukwago, acting as an agent of Hon. Basajjabalaba (NRM), illegally defaced, removed, and burned their posters in areas including Kizinda, Nyakabirizi, and Katungu.
Through their legal representatives, Mugisha Arnold & Co. Advocates, the candidates assert that Mr. Lukwago’s actions contravene Section 82 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which prohibits the defacement of campaign materials.
“This kind of impunity is not only criminal but also an affront to the democratic process,” the lawyers noted in the letter. “You and your utterances/actions are contrary to Section 82 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which attracts on conviction a fine not exceeding twenty currency points (UGX 480,000) or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.”
The duo’s legal team has demanded that Mr. Lukwago, who is also the NRM party chairperson Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, reinstates the defaced posters within three days or face both criminal and civil proceedings.
“YOU ARE THEREFORE required to put back all the removed posters promptly WITHIN 3 DAYS from the date of receipt of this notice. SHOULD YOU FAIL to act as required, we have further instructions to institute both Criminal and Civil proceedings against you, at your own peril, heavy cost, risk and regrettable embarrassment,” the notice warned.
Reacting to the move, Mr Ndyakira Nicholas Muheereza, a favorite to win the parliamentary seat, welcomed the decision by his legal team, emphasizing the need for clean and fair competition in the political space.
“We must uphold the principle of fair politics and reject smear campaigns or acts of intimidation by our rivals,” he said. “Let every candidate sell their ideas to the people, not resort to sabotaging others.”
Efforts to reach Mr. Lukwago for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication of this article.
