KAMPALA – Missing names on the voter’s registers, low turn up and violence marred youth village elections conducted across the country on Monday, August 17, 2020.
According to the Electoral Commission guidelines, the polls were scheduled to take place between 8am and 2pm. Voters were required to line behind their candidates.
However, in some parts, voting started as late as 3pm while in some others it did not take place.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said they are investigating an incident where one of their officers was disarmed by a local leader during the youth village elections in Kiyaga Zone Bwaise I, Kawempe Division in Kampala city.
“This shocking incident happened today during the youth elections during the declaration of results where National Unity Platform (NUP) candidates had got 21 votes against National Resistance Movement (NRM) 09 votes. The Youth started agitating that there was a likelihood of declaring the NRM candidate as the winner. They turned to the police officer Cpl Jack Rutabaleka, who was providing security at the venue and started insulting him. Then six men came from behind and grabbed him unaware, in the process the Local Council I Chairman of the area Joachim Kimera came and disarmed him,” in part read the statement.
However, Mr Onyago said police and sister security agencies successfully provided security to various voting venues for youth elections in Kampala metropolitan area.
According to Onyango, the exercise was generally peaceful except minor incidents of violence in some areas such as Mpererwe, Bwaise, Kisowera, Kawempe, Kyebando Nsoba, Kazo, Katabi, Bweyogere, Kiira, Kyaliwajjala and Kireka.
In Luweero town council, several polling stations such as Kasoma, Kiwogozi, Luweero Central, Kavule, Kizito, Kasana market and Kiyenze Nakazzi were open by 8am.
However, there was low turn up of voters. Some of the voters who turned up couldn’t find their names on the registers. At Mabale and Kasoma villages youths charged against polling officials after failing to trace their names on the registers.
The Electoral Commission also said the youth village elections were generally successful.
“We can say 95 per cent of the villages have voted today despite a few mishaps here and there. We are compiling the number of villages that have not elected today to see if they can elect tomorrow,” EC spokesman Paul Bukenya said in an interview.
