Politics 24 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ssenyonyi ferry trip to Kalangala aborted amid by-election
Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi was unable to reach Kalangala to oversee his party's election activities after ferries he boarded were reportedly prevented from completing their journey amid a Woman MP by-election. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/trip-aborted-as-ferry-carrying-lop-ssenyonyi-forced-to-turn-back-amid-kalangala-poll-5507460
The journey of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, to Kalangala District was cut short on Wednesday, as ferries carrying him were allegedly prevented from reaching their destination. Ssenyonyi intended to travel to the island district to support the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Irene Nampala, in the ongoing Woman MP by-election.
According to the LoP, he waited for several hours at Bukakata Landing Site in Masaka on a ferry that failed to depart. He claimed that instructions had been issued to bar his travel to Kalangala, where he was scheduled to supervise Nampala’s campaign team.
“Apparently, the ferries will not move to Kalangala for as long as I’m on board,” Ssenyonyi stated on social media, adding that other travellers were also significantly delayed. He further reported that a second ferry, which eventually departed, was ordered to turn back en route across Lake Victoria.
Ssenyonyi eventually disembarked and returned to Masaka to avoid causing further inconvenience to other passengers. He expressed concerns about potential risks, suggesting that even alternative travel methods like speedboats might be intercepted by the military.
The by-election is being held to fill the vacancy left by the late Hellen Nakimuli. The Electoral Commission, through spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi, stated that the polling was proceeding peacefully across the district and urged stakeholders to maintain order.
Five candidates are vying for the seat, including NUP’s Irene Nampala, NRM’s Aidah Nabayiga, and three independents. The specific reasons for the ferry disruptions remained unclear, and authorities had not yet directly commented on Ssenyonyi’s allegations by the time of the report.