LCI Chairperson Killed in Family Clash Over Rival Political Camps in Mbale

A village council chairperson in Mbale District, Bugisu Sub-region, has died following violent clashes between family members supporting rival political candidates in Bungokho North Constituency.

The clashes, which occurred on Christmas Day, involved supporters of the incumbent Bungokho North Member of Parliament, Mr John Faith Magolo, and Ms Shafiga Wanyenya, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the constituency. Mr Magolo lost the NRM flag to Ms Wanyenya during the party primaries.

Police say the violence left at least 10 people critically injured. The deceased has been identified as Moses Nabendeh, the LCI chairperson of Bubirabi Lower village in Wanale Sub-county, where the clashes erupted.

Among the injured are Milton Wabwire, 51, Ronald Waboka and Andrew Nabendeh, all members of the same family.

Speaking from his hospital bed at Mbale General Clinic on December 26, 2025, Mr Milton Nabendeh said he was at home celebrating Christmas when he received a call informing him that his father, Moses Nabendeh, and other relatives had been attacked.

“When I rushed to rescue them, I was also attacked by the same group. They stormed my parents’ home at around 11pm and destroyed property,” he said, adding that the attackers were armed with sticks, clubs, empty bottles and pangas.

The injured were rushed to Mbale General Clinic on boda bodas for treatment. Mr Nabendeh later succumbed to his injuries on December 26 while receiving treatment at the same facility.

Mr Milton Wabwire, a brother to the deceased, said they were relaxing at a nearby trading centre when they were attacked by members of their own family who accused them of supporting a rival political candidate.

Police and local leaders said preliminary information indicates that both the victims and attackers belong to the same extended family, divided along political lines, with one faction backing Ms Wanyenya and the other supporting Mr Magolo.

Ms Wanyenya said a Christmas soccer tournament held earlier in the day in her honour passed off peacefully, but violence broke out later that night after her supporters returned home.

She alleged that her supporters were attacked by panga-wielding supporters of her opponent, leaving several people injured and admitted to hospital. She said her team restrained itself from retaliating.

“There was another incident where a supporter of my opponent attempted to cut one of my supporters but instead injured his own father, who later died,” Ms Wanyenya said, noting that the intended target was the injured man’s brother, who supports her.

She condemned the violence and said political competition should not lead to loss of life, especially where supporters come from the same families. Ms Wanyenya also claimed that she was attacked by her opponent’s supporters in Budwale Sub-county two weeks earlier, leaving about five of her supporters injured.

“This politics should not cost lives. We must put people first to avoid bloodshed during the campaign period,” she said, calling on police to thoroughly investigate the incidents.

However, Mr Magolo denied the accusations, saying his supporters were the ones attacked.

“My supporters were assaulted using sticks and clubs, and several were badly injured,” Mr Magolo said, adding that at least five people sustained serious injuries. He appealed for calm, saying politics should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.

He also described the repeated clashes as criminal acts and called on security agencies to increase their presence in the constituency to prevent further violence.

A detective at Mbale-Busoba Central Police Station, who requested anonymity, said about 10 suspects, including some of the injured, have been arrested to assist with investigations. Police reportedly recovered exhibits, including blood-stained pangas and clothes, from one suspect’s home.

The body of the deceased was taken to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem, while the suspects remain detained at Mbale-Busoba Central Police Station as investigations continue.

The Elgon Regional Police Commander, Mr Samuel Asiimwe, confirmed the incident and said additional security personnel will be deployed in the area to prevent further clashes.

Meanwhile, the Mbale District NRM Chairperson, Mr Moses Wambogo, said Bungokho North Constituency is under intense political pressure and confirmed that the violence involved members of the same family.

“We strongly condemn what happened. Police must investigate and bring the culprits to book. The party condemns all forms of violence,” Mr Wambogo said, urging the public to remain calm.

Ms Wanyenya is contesting for the Bungokho North parliamentary seat against four candidates: Mr Magolo (Independent), Hussein Wazemba Wachagi (Independent), Moses Wambede (Independent) and Aliyi Kizamba of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).