Ugandan Politician Accuses Minister of Aiding Disputed Election Result
KAMPALA, Uganda – A defeated parliamentary candidate in Uganda is alleging that a government minister facilitated a “false declaration” in the recent election of a prominent opposition figure, reigniting concerns about electoral integrity in the East African nation. Herbert Anderson Burora, who ran for the Nakawa West seat in Kampala, directly accused Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, of involvement in irregularities surrounding the victory of Joel Ssenyonyi.
The accusation, leveled on X (formerly Twitter) on February 12th, stems from a recent online exchange. Barugahara had shared a viral meme in the local Luganda language mocking Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, for allegedly feigning illness to avoid a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni. The meme also contained a humorous misidentification of Barugahara, a detail Burora seized upon in his response.
“But you aided his false declaration as MP, why would he run from you after securing his five years of office through the window?” Burora wrote, implying a quid pro quo arrangement.
The exchange has quickly amplified existing tensions following the January 15th general elections. Provisional results released by the Electoral Commission show Ssenyonyi winning the Nakawa West seat with a commanding 21,761 votes – approximately 83% of the total – while Burora, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, received 9,586 votes.
This isn’t the first time questions have been raised about the legitimacy of Ssenyonyi’s win. Burora has consistently claimed that Ssenyonyi is, in effect, an NRM operative working under the guise of opposition, suggesting the Nakawa West race was an internal power struggle within the ruling party. He reiterated this claim in a January appearance on Sanyuka TV.
The allegations come at a sensitive time for Uganda, where electoral processes have faced scrutiny in the past. International observers have previously raised concerns about transparency and fairness in Ugandan elections, including allegations of voter intimidation and manipulation. According to a 2021 report by the European Union Election Observation Mission, Ugandan elections were marred by a lack of leveling the playing field for candidates and a lack of independence of the electoral commission.
Social media has been ablaze with reactions, largely falling along partisan lines. Supporters of Ssenyonyi’s National Unity Platform (NUP) dismissed Burora’s claims as sour grapes, while others pointed to internal divisions within the NRM. Some commentators highlighted a pattern of alleged irregularities in Kampala’s urban constituencies.
As of press time, Minister Barugahara has not publicly responded to Burora’s direct accusation.
Political analysts suggest the public spat underscores underlying tensions within the NRM and raises questions about the relationship between opposition figures and elements within the Ugandan establishment. With Ssenyonyi poised to continue as Leader of Opposition, the unsubstantiated claims could fuel calls for broader electoral reforms ahead of future polls. The integrity of Uganda’s electoral system is crucial for maintaining political stability and fostering democratic governance in a region facing increasing challenges.