NUP pulls out of Youth Council Elections in Entebbe

The National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders and members in Entebbe pulled out of the youth council elections in several villages of Katabi town council and Entebbe municipality due to various illegal acts that have occurred in the voting process.

As the Electoral Commission held polling for the Village Youth Committees across the country; voting in Entebbe was delayed due to the heavy rain.

This significant day, (Thursday 19th June) especially to young people, marks the third and final election for Special Interest Groups (SIGs) at the village level under the 2025/2026 general elections roadmap.

Richard Ssekyondo, the Entebbe Division B chairperson accused security agencies of interfering and denying eligible voters access, despite heavy morning rains that forced the NUP candidates to withdraw, citing security intimidation and impunity.

At Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School polling station, Nkumba Bendegere, Nkumba Bufulu, Kigungu, and Bugonga, among others, electoral officials with the assistance of security agencies were heavily deployed, which also resulted in chaos as many youths denied eligible voters access.

In addition to the heavy deployment, the Katabi Town Council chairperson, Ronald Kalema, highlighted that in some polling stations especially those in schools, the gates have been locked, saying they would only open after conducting a roll call to verify eligible voters but still it wasn’t done fairly hence many eligible youth to vote for their leaders.

Youth aged 18 to 30 listed on the SIGs Youth Register had a chance to vote in their home villages with hopes of a great opportunity for the youth to choose leaders who will represent their voices and help bring development to their communities.

Before things turned around, Frank Kiseka, a youth and NUP mobiliser from Lugonjo cell had urged everyone to stay peaceful, be respectful, and follow all election guidelines during the polling.

According to Stuart Lubwama, the aspirant MP of Entebbe municipality, Many youth have been denied the right to vote by the security personnel in UPDF uniforms.

Meanwhile, the area NUP leadership also accused Ruth Obela, the head teacher of the Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School of denying the students their right to vote for the candidates they wished to vote for but instead intimidate and instructe all the young ones to vote NRM.

“Some NRM delegates, including Kasozi and Sowedi of Entebbe, had an edited register, but luckily enough, we traced it and denied its use, but at last they were helped by security agencies to chase our fellow NUP members away,” Paddy Ssemwogerere, another youth from Lugonjo said.

When asked about the election exercise, Twaha Sempala, the Entebbe General Secretary of NRM, confirmed the heavy deployment of security agencies, saying, “They were deployed to provide security for both the youth voters and election officials during the exercise.”

Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Electoral Commission Chairperson called on the youth to remain calm during the village-level elections, saying, “Line up, vote, and promote unity.”

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Johnmary Luwaga

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