Sheema District – August 22, 2025
Renowned academic and seasoned politician, Prof. Elijah Mushemeza Dickens, has announced his intention to contest as an independent candidate for the Member of Parliament seat in Sheema South, citing a series of electoral irregularities and injustices that he says compromised the integrity of the NRM primaries.
Spesking to our reporter at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara Mushemeza outlined key reasons for distancing himself from party primaries, accusing the process of being deeply flawed and unfair. Chief among his concerns was the alleged tampering with the voters’ register, which he claims led to the deliberate removal of many of his known supporters — a move he described as blatant voter disenfranchisement.
“It is unacceptable that people who participated in the LC1 elections a months earlier were suddenly missing from the voters’ register.This was a calculated move to weaken my support base,” he said.
He also raised concerns over Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, a rival candidate and Presidential Advisor, accusing him of flouting legal requirements by not officially resigning from public service before engaging in political campaigns. Mushemeza further alleged that Kamuntu used state resources, including government vehicles, during his campaign, an act he termed as abuse of office and a violation of electoral laws.
Additionally, Mushemeza pointed fingers at electoral officials, accusing them of being compromised and partisan. He cited instances where declaration forms were allegedly altered and election officers reportedly took sides in the process.
“The entire process lacked transparency. I petitioned the tribunal, but even that platform failed to deliver fair judgment,” he added.
Despite these challenges, Mushemeza remains confident. He recalled the 2021 elections, in which he also ran as an independent after similar disputes, and emerged victorious.
“This is not the first time I’ve been cheated in the primaries. In 2021, I came back as an independent and the people of Sheema South gave me their trust. I believe they will do so again,” he said.
As the political temperature begins to rise ahead of the 2026 general elections, Mushemeza’s candidacy is expected to shake up the race in Sheema South, with observers noting his strong grassroots support and history of resilience in Uganda’s often-contentious political landscape.
