Kakunda Nina, better known to many Ugandans as singer Nina Roz, has spoken candidly about what she describes as a disturbing and painful entry into national politics, saying her first election experience left her shaken and doubtful about encouraging other young people to follow the same path. She shared her story on Thursday, February 5, 2026, while addressing members of the Uganda Law Society at a press conference in Kampala.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate said the atmosphere surrounding her bid for the Ssembabule District Woman Member of Parliament seat was tense and frightening from the start. Instead of the open and peaceful democratic process she had hoped for, she says she encountered hostility, fear, and repeated incidents that made the entire exercise emotionally draining.
According to Nina Roz, what unfolded on the ground went far beyond normal political competition. She told the gathering that the level of violence and intimidation she witnessed made the election feel more like a conflict zone than a civic event. She claimed that lives were lost and that several of her campaign agents suffered serious mistreatment.
“I was the NUP flag bearer, but what I saw was not an election — it was like war,” she said. She added that some of her agents were allegedly beaten, while others were arrested, creating what she described as a climate of fear among her supporters and team members.
Reflecting on the experience, the artist-turned-politician said she now struggles to advise young Ugandans to join active politics. In her view, the environment she faced was harsh and risky, especially for first-time candidates without deep political networks or security backing. She said the emotional toll alone is enough to discourage many passionate young leaders.
Nina Roz finished third in the race, which was won by NRM’s Florence Nambazira, but she rejected the outcome, insisting the process did not meet standards of fairness. She argued that she had strong backing at the grassroots and believes the final results did not accurately represent the support she received from voters.
She also referred to a violent incident during the campaigns in Lwemiyaga sub-county, where clashes reportedly broke out between armed personnel and supporters, leaving one person dead and others injured. For her, such events underline the serious dangers tied to political participation in some parts of the country.
Nina Roz concluded by calling on members of the legal community to step in and help safeguard political actors, revealing that some of her campaign agents remain in detention. She said her fight is no longer just about one election, but about creating a safer political space where young people can take part without intimidation or fear.
