Violence Rocks Youth Village Polls; Voters Ignore COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines

Political organisations have started claiming victory in the election of Village/Cell Youth Committees countrywide.

The ruling NRM party said it had swept the polls in many parts of the country.

I want to thank the youth of NRM congratulations we have had a good activity today and I want to inform the NRM family that we are still compiling but we have won Wakiso, Kampala, Mpigi, lower, Mukono, Nakaseke and many other places,” said NRM Secretary General, Kasule Lumumba.

Robert Kyagulanyi observed: “Less than a month after unveiling NUP, we won most seats everywhere we had candidates! Where we did not win is where we didn’t front candidates. That’s the lesson for us for the next elections. This is a revolution!”

ChimpReports understands the ruling party was leading in the youth elections especially in the central, western and Northern Uganda.

The Electoral Commission is yet to release the official results from the elections which were marred by violence.

Participants ignored all the available health guidelines aimed at combating Coronavirus.

While the Electoral Commission had promised to ensure social distancing, washing hands and wearing masks at the polling areas, nothing of the sort was visible anywhere.

Voters lined up behind their favourite candidates. Yet, the country is facing a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The EC said at the close of polling at 4:00pm, Monday, Kampala Capital City, had returned results for 928 Cells out of a total of 958 Cells.

Preliminary reports indicate the elections were not concluded in 30 Cells due to riotous conduct by the voters.

Wakiso District which has 533 villages had returns from 512 villages, with the exercise set to be repeated in at least 21 villages, where elections were called off due to chaotic behaviour.

“Elections were conducted and successfully concluded in all the 612 villages in Mityana District,” said Acting EC spokesperson Paul Bukenya.

“Other districts from across the country have reported peaceful electoral exercise, with isolated cases of violent conduct by candidates and their supporters, which attracted Police intervention,” he said, adding, “A detailed report on the elections will be issued in due course.”