Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate in the Kawempe North by-election has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General demanding compensation for the alleged inhuman treatment he suffered at the hands of security operatives moments after his nomination on February 26, 2025.
In this case, Nalukoola is also pushing for a court declaration to outlaw the use of hoods and masks by security agencies to conceal their identity.
According to Nalukoola, he was violently arrested and harassed by security operatives whom he claims were dressed in dark masks and hoods making it impossible to identify them.
The incident which reportedly occurred just after he was officially nominated to contest for Kawempe North parliamentary seat left him humiliated, injured and psychologically distressed.
“I was treated like a criminal for simply standing for office. Security operatives threw me into a van, blindfolded me and drove me to an unknown location where I was held for hours before being released without any charge,” Nalukoola stated in his legal complaint.
Nalukoola is seeking compensation for the physical and emotional harm inflicted on him, a court ruling to outlaw security operatives from wearing hoods and masks which he argues enables impunity, abuse of power and illegal arrests and a public apology from government for violating his rights.
His legal team insists that the use of masked security agents is unconstitutional as it allows officers to act without accountability making it easier for abductions, torture and illegal actions to occur without consequences.
Government officials and security agencies have remained tight lipped about the lawsuit, but sources close to the matter indicate that the Attorney General’s office is preparing to challenge Nalukoola’s case.
Security analysts argue that the use of masks and hoods is a tactical necessity for elite units handling counterterrorism and high-risk operations.
However, human rights activists argue that in Uganda this anonymity has been abused to intimidate opposition figures and activists.
This case could set a legal precedent for how security agencies operate in Uganda. If the court rules in Nalukoola’s favor, it could force reforms in security operations making officers more identifiable and accountable for their actions.
With the Kawempe North by-election just around the corner, this lawsuit is a direct challenge to the government’s treatment of opposition figures.
