CAMPAIGN MANAGER FACES THREATS AFTER VIOLENT CAMPAIGN END IN MADI OKOLLO

Mr. Drasi Alex, campaigning for Hon. Afidra Ronald during Joint NRM joint campaigns in Ewanga Sub County.

By Dramadri Federick
Arua City

The campaign manager for the incumbent Member of Parliament for Lower Madi Constituency is living in fear for his safety following threats from supporters allegedly aligned with opposing candidates.

This situation arose after a violent end to the NRM joint campaign activities in Rhino Camp Sub County, which descended into chaos as supporters prepared to leave. Supporters of Ogama Ismail Ali are accused of stoning Hon. Afidra’s vehicle while he was attending to customers at a shop in Miatangacia Trading Center around 19:20 on July 14, 2025, according to police reports.

Collins Asea, the police public relations officer for the West Nile region, confirmed that Mr. Drasi Alex, the driver and campaign manager for Hon. Afidra Ronald, managed to escape the attack by fleeing toward Kaligo Road with Hon. Afidra’s Land Cruiser (reg. UBK 942F), which was damaged during the incident. Hon. Afidra himself followed on a boda boda ridden by Gabriel from Kamu Kamu. As they headed toward Arua, they were ambushed at Bisimillai by supporters aligned with Hon. Ogama and Hon. Joan, who had parked along the roadside, the statement reports.

Asea explained that as they tried to navigate through the crowd, stones were thrown from multiple directions, causing damage to the vehicle. The windscreen and bonnet were shattered, with stones lodged on the bonnet.

When Radio Pacis contacted Mr. Drasi Alex, he expressed fear over the ongoing attacks, which he believes threaten his safety. “The first assault was by Ogama’s personal assistant, who grabbed my phone, and that’s when they disrupted our rallies in Wakadinya and Kiranya in Ewanga Sub County. But yesterday’s attack was even worse. If the mobilized youths’ goal was to target either me (Drasi) or Hon. Afidra, what does that imply? I am threatened, and my life is at risk right now,” Drasi explained.

A police case of malicious damage to property has been opened at Rhino Camp Police Station (Ref: SD/30/14/07/2025).

Josua Masereka, the Resident District Commissioner of Madi Okollo, criticized NRM party officials and candidates for allegedly disregarding party guidelines, which he said contributed to the violence.

“These campaigns have been violent. Yesterday, I observed that the campaigns, which were supposed to end at 6:00 PM, did not conclude as agreed. Some candidates did not show up, and we had agreed that after 6:00 PM, campaign activities should cease and supporters disperse to go home. Unfortunately, what happened even after that time is regrettable,” Masereka remarked.

Last week, a person believed to be a supporter of Ogama Ismail died during a fight in Rigbo Sub County involving supporters from opposing sides.

To help regulate the conduct of campaigns, the NRM Electoral Commission has issued a comprehensive five-page guideline. This document emphasizes that disrespect, hate speech, incitement to violence, and physical assaults are serious offenses. Offenders may face warnings, disciplinary hearings, or disqualification if they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

However Ugandan laws describe malicious damage to property as a criminal offence under Section 335(1) of the Penal Code Act. The penalty can include imprisonment for up to fourteen years, and the court may also order the convicted individual to pay compensation to the victim for the damages caused.