RIP!! UPDF Officer Shoots Dead Museveni’s Mobiliser

The political atmosphere in Busia District was thrown into deep shock after a Museveni youth mobiliser was shot dead during violent clashes among National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters. What was meant to be a campaign season turned into a moment of bloodshed, fear, and unanswered questions that have shaken both the ruling party and local communities.

The incident happened on Wednesday evening, January 7, 2026, in Samia North constituency. At around 6:00 pm, rival groups believed to be loyal to different NRM-leaning candidates clashed violently in Namungodi Town Council. In the chaos, a young man who strongly supported President Yoweri Museveni lost his life.

The deceased was identified as Aaron Mukisa, a resident of Nawante village in Namungodi Town Council. Mukisa was widely known in the area as a Museveni youth mobiliser. Family members and residents described him as humble, peaceful, and deeply loyal to the ruling party and the President.

According to witnesses, Mukisa was shot at close range by a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier. The soldier was reportedly attached to the security detail of Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, John Mulimba, who is also the sitting Member of Parliament for Samia North.

Violence reportedly broke out as Minister Mulimba’s convoy returned from a campaign rally in Mayombe. The convoy included police patrol cars, a UPDF vehicle, and supporters riding motorcycles. Tensions rose when the convoy reached Namungodi trading centre, an area known to support Mulimba’s main rival.

Eyewitnesses said supporters of Independent candidate John Paul Wandera, who lost the NRM flag to Mulimba, were gathered at their campaign office. They claim that Mulimba’s supporters arrived armed with stones and sticks and began attacking people at the trading centre.

Robert Osinya, one of the supporters present at the scene, said the situation quickly turned violent. He explained that soldiers fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd and later began beating Wandera’s supporters, many of whom were surprisingly wearing NRM T-shirts.

Osinya gave a chilling account of Mukisa’s final moments. He said the young man was singled out by a soldier and beaten repeatedly. According to him, Mukisa begged for his life, clearly stating that he was a supporter of President Museveni and not an enemy.

Witnesses claim that despite surrendering and showing no resistance, Mukisa was shot. Osinya said he heard the soldier cock his gun before firing. After the shooting, the soldier reportedly jumped onto a military truck, which quickly drove away from the scene.

Mukisa’s body was left lying on the roadside in a pool of blood. He was still wearing a yellow T-shirt printed with President Museveni’s portrait, a painful symbol for many NRM supporters who later gathered at the scene in shock and anger.

The violence did not end with Mukisa’s death. Another supporter, identified only as Ndeke, who backs John Paul Wandera, was beaten severely and left in critical condition. He was rushed to hospital as tensions continued to rise in the area.

A third victim, Peter Simwero, a well-known local DJ in Namungodi Town Council, suffered serious head injuries. Witnesses alleged that he was stabbed with a bayonet by a soldier during the chaos, further deepening public outrage.

Attempts to get a comment from Minister John Mulimba were unsuccessful. However, sources close to him claimed that Mukisa had thrown stones at a soldier, forcing the soldier to shoot in self-defense. This explanation has been strongly rejected by several eyewitnesses.

Residents who knew Mukisa insist he was not violent. Many described him as calm and respectful, saying he would never attack a soldier. His family members echoed the same view, demanding a full and transparent investigation into the killing.

The incident has deeply affected the political mood in Samia North. The constituency is witnessing intense competition, with all main candidates leaning toward NRM. As the January 15, 2026 polls draw closer, fear and mistrust are replacing excitement and hope.

Some former opposition supporters who had recently joined NRM say they are now reconsidering their political choices. Kenneth Ojambo, who joined NRM from the National Unity Platform last year, said the killing made him question the party’s direction and treatment of ordinary supporters.

Local leaders have also spoken out strongly. Namungodi Town councillor Stanley Wejuli described the shooting as barbaric and politically damaging. He warned that such actions could seriously harm the image of NRM and President Museveni himself.

Mukisa’s family has directly appealed to President Museveni to intervene. They are asking him to ensure justice and explain why a soldier would shoot an unarmed young man who was campaigning for the President.

As investigations begin, many unanswered questions remain. Who gave the orders? Was the use of lethal force justified? And why did soldiers flee the scene instead of reporting the incident immediately?

For now, Busia District mourns a young life cut short. The killing of Aaron Mukisa has become more than just a campaign tragedy; it is a painful reminder of how political violence can destroy unity, trust, and human life when power struggles go too far.