Bobi Wine: NUP youth nominations blocked in 80% of Uganda's districts
Security was heightened at the Electoral Commission offices in Kawempe on June 10, 2025, during the final day of nominations for special interest group elections—older persons, persons with disabilities, and the youth. PHOTO/DAVID WALUGEMBE
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Bobi Wine slams EC, RDCs over youth nomination denials.
Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, has accused government-aligned officials of systematically blocking National Unity Platform (NUP) youth from contesting in upcoming special interest group elections.
Speaking Tuesday, Kyagulanyi claimed that about 80 percent of districts nationwide “frustrated or barred” NUP youth nominees ahead of the June 19 elections for youth, older persons, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), which will be conducted at the village level. Uganda has just over 140 districts.
“Our youth were blocked by Electoral Commission officials, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), and GISOs,” Bobi Wine said.
“In Kampala alone, they blocked most NUP candidates while facilitating NRM candidates to nominate successfully. In some areas, goons were hired to beat our candidates and chase them from nomination venues.”
Bobi Wine added in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “We’ve formally complained—not because we expect positive results, but to be on record. THAT IS WHY THE 2026 ELECTION MUST BE A PROTEST VOTE.”
The Electoral Commission (EC) concluded nominations on Tuesday, June 10, with campaigns scheduled for June 12–14 and polling set for June 19.
At Kawempe Division EC offices, Daily Monitor reporters witnessed dozens of youth stranded outside the gates, some denied entry to submit nomination forms. By 5 p.m., many were seen tearing up documents in frustration.
Mr Francis Ssozi, NUP registrar for Mulago 2 parish, said nearly all youths he represents failed to get nominated.
“Our youths were turned down without reason. We’ve spent two days coming to EC offices. What’s worse is that NRM candidates were helped with ease. We request the EC to do its job as prescribed in the law,” Ssozi said.
He also criticized the EC for shifting nominations from parish offices to divisional headquarters, making access more difficult for many.
But EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi dismissed the claims as “baseless.”
“It doesn’t make sense to comment on hypotheses and claims without evidence,” he said. “These nominations didn’t require crowds. They weren’t rallies. Interested individuals simply needed to fill forms and leave.”
The accusations come just days after security forces disrupted NUP youth mobilization events in parts of Jinja and Mityana, further fueling opposition claims of political suppression ahead of the 2026 general elections.
