Kampala, Uganda – Tensions flared at the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Kampala today as members of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP), staged a protest demanding immediate action on petitions related to the party’s recent delegates conference in Mbarara.
Led by UYD leader Michael Mpuuga, the protestors accused the EC of deliberately ignoring multiple petitions filed over three months ago.
The complaints stem from alleged electoral fraud during the internal party elections, including claims of ballot stuffing, voter bribery, and the illegal accreditation of delegates.
“It has been over three months since these petitions were submitted. The Commission’s silence is unacceptable and amounts to complicity,” Mpuuga told reporters outside the EC premises.
The delegates’ conference in question, held in Mbarara, was a key event in determining the future leadership of the Democratic Party. However, UYD claims that the process was deeply flawed and that the Electoral Commission has since failed in its duty to investigate the allegations.
“We’re defending internal democracy,” Mpuuga said.
“If the EC can’t handle issues within a single party, how will it manage the 2026 national elections?”
The group submitted a formal written ultimatum to EC officials and warned they would camp at the commission’s offices if their concerns were not addressed within days.
However, at least four UYD members were arrested during the protest. The demonstrators were seen being bundled into police vehicles shortly after delivering their petition.
As of the time of publication, the Electoral Commission had not released an official statement addressing the protest or the underlying allegations.
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