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By Alexander Luyima
Kampala, Uganda – A chilling revelation has shaken the foundations of Uganda’s already fragile democracy. Two of the country’s most prominent opposition leaders have exposed a clandestine state operation that weaponizes the very nomination process designed to guarantee free participation in elections. What is now being called The Signature Scandal shows how the Electoral Commission allegedly funneled sensitive supporter data directly to the Internal Security Organisation, turning a democratic requirement into an intelligence tool against the opposition.
The alarm was first sounded by Hon. Jimmy Akena, President of the Uganda People’s Congress, who demanded answers from the Electoral Commission. “I gave my signatures to the Electoral Commission. Why did the Electoral Commission then give them to a third party, ISO, who went on to call my supporters on the ground?” he asked. His concern was quickly echoed by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, who confirmed that his supporters were also being targeted in identical fashion.
This is not merely a breach of privacy. It is a calculated strategy of fear. These signatures are not just names on a form. They are the DNA of the opposition’s grassroots network. Each entry carries personal details, including phone numbers, addresses, and national ID information. In the hands of a security agency, this transforms from harmless paperwork into a weapon designed to suppress political mobilization before campaigns even begin.
A Poisonous Blueprint for Electoral Manipulation
International observers and governance experts are sounding the alarm. Dr. Adeola Akinremi, Director of the Africa Democracy Watch in Abuja, described the scheme as “a terrifying evolution in electoral malpractice.” He explained that while Africa has long contended with vote buying, ballot stuffing, and internet shutdowns, this represents something far more dangerous. “The weaponization of administrative processes before the campaign even begins is a poisonous blueprint. It dismantles opposition organizing at the root by instilling fear in its core supporters. The Electoral Commission has ceased to be a neutral referee and has instead become the intelligence arm of the incumbent regime.”
Reports from opposition supporters confirm this chilling reality. Many have received anonymous phone calls from unfamiliar numbers, warning them that their activities are being monitored. The message is unmistakable: support the wrong candidate, and there will be consequences.
Who Bears Responsibility?
The chain of accountability points to the highest levels of government.
1. The Electoral Commission, under Justice Simon Byabakama, carries the constitutional duty of safeguarding fairness. By allowing sensitive data to reach a third party, whether through complicity or negligence, it has betrayed public trust. Its silence only deepens suspicion.
2. The Internal Security Organisation has stretched its mandate beyond safeguarding national security. It has been reduced to a tool for political intimidation, ensuring not the safety of citizens but the continuity of one man’s rule.
3. Parliament, dominated by the ruling NRM, remains passive, confirming its role as a rubber stamp rather than a guardian of accountability.
The Judiciary: Final Arbiter or Captive Institution?
Can the courts be trusted to intervene? The record provides little hope. While lower courts occasionally show independence in smaller cases, history has demonstrated that the judiciary bends under pressure when the stakes involve presidential power.
Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana, a leading Ugandan constitutional lawyer, stated, “The legal argument here is watertight. This is a gross violation of privacy and a breach of electoral law. However, the political pressure will be enormous. If the judiciary chooses expediency over justice, public trust in the rule of law will collapse even further.”
The Museveni Playbook: Old Tactics, New Tricks
President Yoweri Museveni’s government has long relied on state organs to suppress political dissent. What distinguishes this scandal is the innovation of using the opposition’s compliance with electoral requirements against them. By turning nomination forms into instruments of surveillance, the regime has perfected a new form of control: efficient, quiet, and devastatingly effective.
Are Ugandans Listening?
Yes, and loudly so. Social media platforms are ablaze with conversations under the hashtag #SignatureScandal. From WhatsApp groups to private conversations, Ugandans are connecting the dots. They are realizing that the state is no longer a neutral player but an active combatant in the political arena. Even the seemingly innocent act of endorsing a candidate with a signature now carries the risk of intimidation.
This scandal is more than a political controversy. It is a national test of conscience. Can Uganda hold a credible election when the process is poisoned from the very start? The 2026 elections are being manipulated not at the ballot box, but in the shadows—one intimidated supporter at a time.
The world is watching. The question is whether it will witness a people defending their democracy or a nation surrendering it entirely.
