By Hannah Marion Namukasa
NRM youth cadres, led by Buyinza Ibrahim, took to the streets of Kampala on Wednesday afternoon, staging a fierce demostration against what they described as a consistent rigging of their party’s electoral victories in the capital. The protest, which began at the Bombo Road playground, saw a group of passionate youths march toward Parliament, condemning the Electoral Commission (EC) and accusing it of colluding with the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Elias Luyimabazi Nalukoola to undermine the NRM candidate, Hajjat Faridah Nambi, during the Kawempe North by-election.
According to the protesters, Luyimabazi’s victory, officially sworn in as a Member of Parliament today, was achieved through electoral manipulation, particularly in the counting of votes. They voiced their frustration over what they termed as the deliberate exclusion of votes from 17 polling stations where NRM had significant support. The group also demanded immediate action from President Museveni, calling for an intervention to halt what they see as the Electoral Commission’s ongoing bias against the NRM in Kampala.
“We will not accept the surrender of NRM to the opposition,” Buyinza declared, emphasizing that the youth were committed to defending the party’s legitimacy. He also highlighted that the numerous NRM empowerment programs in the capital should have been enough to guarantee a fair victory, yet they believed these efforts were undermined by the rigging they claim occurred in the by-election.
The protesters further called for a meeting with President Museveni to discuss strategies to prevent the alleged electoral fraud from continuing. The group recalled the President’s previous statements about being a victim of rigging in the 2021 general elections, particularly in Kampala, where they argue over one million votes were reportedly manipulated.
Despite their vigorous demonstration, the protesters were neither obstructed nor escorted by police as they marched through the streets. However, tensions ran high, with the youth insisting that they would not back down until their grievances were addressed.
“We demand justice for Hajjat Nambi and the entire NRM party,” the protesters shouted, making it clear that their fight for electoral fairness in Kampala was far from over.
The protest in Kampala has raised fresh concerns over electoral integrity, with many asking whether the Electoral Commission can assure the public that the vote count in future elections will be transparent and free from manipulation. The situation remains tense, with NRM youth warning that further action will be taken if their demands are not met.
