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Ahead of tomorrow's highly anticipated Kawempe North byelections, the Minister of State for Youth and Children’s Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, has issued a stern warning to voters, particularly the youth.
In a public statement, the minister urged young people to exercise their right to vote but warned against staying at polling stations to guard election results.
Barugahara made it clear that while casting a vote is a fundamental right, there is no need for voters to remain at polling centres after they have cast their ballots.
He reminded the public that each candidate has appointed agents specifically tasked with guarding votes, making it unnecessary for voters to stay at the centre.
Go and take part in the voting because it is your right to be part of the voting process and choosing the leaders you want. But we urge you not to go to the polling station to guard the election result.
When you are done casting your ballot, go home. Do not remain at the polling centre because the security will beat you up and we don’t want that.
The Minister's warning also included a caution against political manipulation, advising voters not to be used by politicians to create unnecessary tensions at polling stations.
According to Barugahara, the police and security agencies will carry out their duties and will not tolerate individuals remaining at the polling stations.
Rising Tensions and Allegations of Election Manipulation
The warning comes amidst heightened tensions in the run-up to the byelection, with the National Unity Platform (NUP) raising alarms over potential rigging.
The opposition party has cited an unexplained increase in voter registration numbers compared to the 2021 general elections and claims of a polling station being set up within a military base in the Kawempe area.
NUP candidate Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola has spoken out against these concerns, threatening dire consequences if any rigging attempts are made.
He has vowed to protect the party’s votes, stating, “We are going to protect our votes. We have the team capable of doing this.”
The police, responding to the rising tensions, have urged restraint among all stakeholders and advised against self-declaration of results, warning that any unofficial results will not be considered. The Electoral Commission has been called upon to announce the official results to ensure transparency and avoid further conflict.
Concerns Over Security and Election Integrity
The by-election has been marred by reports of violence and security overreach, particularly from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JAT).
The arrest of NUP candidate Nalukoola shortly after his nomination, as well as the assault of journalists covering the events, has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process.