Ugandan musician and National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer for Woman Member of Parliament in Ssembabule District, Nina Ankunda, popularly known as Nina Roz, has delivered a chilling account of the just-concluded 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections, describing the process as “a war zone rather than a democratic exercise.”
Speaking emotional at the Uganda Law society new year event , Nina Roz said the campaign and polling period were marred by brutal violence, including beatings, arrests, and abductions targeting her election agents. She revealed that several of her supporters remain unaccounted for, weeks after the elections.
“This was not an election. It was war,” Nina Roz said, fighting back emotion as she recounted the ordeal.
Her testimony mirrors widespread reports of electoral violence witnessed across the country during the 2026 polls.
In January, the United Nations Human Rights Office issued a strongly worded statement condemning repression, excessive force, and a culture of impunity, warning that such actions severely undermined citizens’ ability to freely participate in the democratic process.
According to rights groups, at least seven people were killed during the January presidential vote, with dozens more injured or detained under unclear circumstances.
In a striking and controversial appeal, Nina Roz urged young people to think twice before engaging in opposition politics, citing the high personal cost involved.
Her remarks signal a deep erosion of public confidence in Uganda’s electoral system, especially among first-time voters and politically active youth.
Nina Roz finished third in the Ssembabule Woman MP race, a result she and other opposition figures have questioned, pointing to alleged military interference and intimidation in the electoral process.
The fallout has intensified calls for international sanctions against individuals accused of orchestrating or benefiting from election-related abuses.
As pressure mounts both locally and internationally, Nina Roz’s account adds to the growing list of voices demanding accountability, electoral reforms, and protection of political freedoms in Uganda