There is heavy security deployment of   in Kikuube district as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party holds Primaries for the LCV by-election. Voting will kick off at exactly midday and end at 2:00 pm. Four candidates were nominated to compete for the primaries.

They include Phillip Burnet Mbabazi, Christopher Nkalu, Paddy Kisembo, Dickson Tusabe, and Patrick Tusabe. By 7:00 a.m., security personnel had been deployed across the sub-counties of Kyangwali, Kabwoya, Buhimba, Kizirafumbi, Buhimba town Council, Kikuube town Council and Bugambe.

Security officials say the deployment is aimed at maintaining peace and order during and after the election process.  Titus Byaruhanga, the Deputy Regional Police Commander for Albertine who is commanding the operation says, the deployment is to protect voters and to ensure that no violence erupts before, during and after the NRM Primary elections.

Byaruhanga  warned that security agencies are ready to deal decisively with anyone who attempts to cause chaos, urging candidates, their agents and supporters to maintain discipline and peace before, during and after polling.

Godwine Angalia, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) says they have enough manpower deployed in the district to eliminate wrong elements who would like to jeorpadise peace during the electoral process.

He says security has identified potential hotspots where supporters of some candidates are allegedly planning to engage in violence, particularly in Kyangwali, Kabwoya and Bugambe sub counties adding that in these areas, security has been heavily deployed.

Angalia warned candidates and their agents against voter bribery stating that it undermines the integrity of an election. He also called upon candidates, their supporters, polling agents and the general public to maintain peace throughout the electoral process.

Other InterestingArticles Karita Livestock Market Users Ask Minister To Lift Suspension Amid Anthrax Fears Kabyanga Urges Rwenzori Students To Embrace Digital Skilling Weights, Measures Law Too Archaic, Experts And Market Regulators Say Suspected Ebola Patient Isolated At Kisoro Hospital Bwera General Hospital Prepared For Ebola Threat Kasese District Leaders Pledge To Improve Education In Hard-To-Reach Areas Pakwach LC 5 Chairperson Promises To Fight Shoddy Works, Corruption Mao Seeks Museveni Audience Ahead Of Crucial CEC Meeting

Meanwhile, the distribution of polling materials began at 8 a.m. to all the 330 polling stations across the district.  The Kikuube District National Resistance Movement (NRM) Registrar, Pascal Musuga, told Uganda Radio Network (URN) in an interview on Thursday morning that by 8:00 a.m., all sub-counties and polling stations had received the required polling materials.

According to Musuga, only those in the NRM Register will be allowed to participate in the voting process. The Kikuube LCV seat fell vacant following the death of Peter Banura on April 4, 2026. Banura had been re-elected with 37,455 votes against his closest rival, Phenekansi Timanyire of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who polled 6,230 votes.

The NRMcandidate  later join and compete with candidates from other political parties in the by-election which will be held on June 18th, 2026. The Electoral Commission (EC) last month released a roadmap for the Kikuube LCV by-election.

According to the official roadmap signed by EC Chairperson Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the electoral process began on April 17 with stakeholder engagement and a press briefing. The roadmap outlines key activities leading up to polling day, including the update of the National Voters Register at the parish level from April 27 to April 30, and the display of the register at polling stations from May 8 to May 12, 2026.

Nomination of candidates will take place at Kikuube District headquarters on May 25 and 26, followed by inspection of nomination papers and submission of complaints from May 26 to June 1. Other activities include the issuance of Voter Location Slips (VLS) by parish supervisors from June 1 to June 10, and the training of polling officials, tally clerks, and BVVK operators from June 4 to June 5.

Under the roadmap, the display of the voters’ register at polling stations will run from May 8 to May 12, 2026, while the nomination of candidates is scheduled for May 25 and 26 at the Kikuube District headquarters. Inspection of nomination papers and submission of complaints will take place between May 26 and June 1