A wave of political tension has swept across Kamuli District following a fatal shooting incident on Wednesday night, just hours before the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries. The victim, Sowedi Egumbye—the husband of Kamuli District Woman MP aspirant Sarah Auma—was gunned down by police in what authorities have described as a case of election-related violence.
According to Busoga North Police, the incident occurred around 11:00 PM when a group allegedly affiliated with Auma’s campaign team stormed the home of Buzaaya County Member of Parliament, Martin Muzaale.
ASP Michael Kasadha, the regional police spokesperson, told Baba FM that the group—moving in a convoy—forcefully broke into Muzaale’s residence by crashing through the gate with one of their vehicles.
“They used a car to ram the gate of Honourable Muzaale to gain entry,” Kasadha said. “They were armed with pangas and hammers, and some people sustained injuries. These weapons were recovered from the scene.”
The police responded after receiving an emergency call. Upon arriving at the scene, officers reportedly found the group attempting to flee. In the chaos that followed, Egumbye was shot by officers aiming to deflate the tyres of the escaping vehicle.
“During the attempt to stop them, bullets were fired to disable the car. Unfortunately, Sowedi was hit and later died,” Kasadha confirmed. “We regret this loss. No life should be lost due to political competition, but people must follow electoral guidelines.”
Egumbye’s body was transported to Kamuli General Hospital for a post-mortem as police launched a formal investigation into the shooting. Preliminary reports suggest the incident occurred well beyond the official campaign time limits, raising concerns that the group’s actions were part of a larger scheme to influence the primaries through voter importation and intimidation tactics.
ASP Kasadha further revealed that several individuals arrested at the scene were not registered voters in the area and may have been illegally transported into the district.
“There is credible information that some candidates are ferrying people from other areas to vote where they’re not registered. That’s an electoral crime,” he said.
Sarah Auma, whose political ambitions have now been overshadowed by the loss of her husband, had not released a statement by press time. Earlier this month, she survived a separate incident—a traffic accident along the Kamuli–Jinja highway—which left her hospitalized for several days.
The shooting marks one of the most disturbing episodes of violence in this year’s NRM primaries, highlighting persistent challenges in securing safe and credible elections, particularly in rural and politically charged constituencies.
Adding to the controversy are emerging—but unconfirmed—claims about Egumbye’s alleged criminal record. Local sources in Buwagi, where he resided, have accused him of past involvement in illegal activities, including reportedly leading a “fake dollar” syndicate. Some residents speculate that Wednesday night’s incident may have been a targeted killing under the cover of political unrest.
“Sowedi had evaded several police attempts to arrest him,” said one resident who requested anonymity. “There are whispers that this was more about settling old scores than political chaos.”
Repeated efforts to obtain additional comments from ASP Kasadha regarding these allegations went unanswered.
Meanwhile, security has been intensified across Kamuli and other districts as the NRM primaries unfold. Authorities have issued stern warnings to candidates and supporters against electoral malpractice and violence.
“Anyone who acts unlawfully or threatens the peace of these elections will be arrested and held until the end of the electoral period,” Kasadha cautioned.
As the district reels from the shock of Egumbye’s death, questions remain about the conduct of state security forces, the extent of illegal campaign tactics, and the impact of violence on democratic processes in Uganda’s rural heartlands.
