MANAFWA – The National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership in Manafwa District has raised concerns over alleged bias, intimidation, and systemic exclusion during the recently concluded youth village committee elections, accusing Electoral Commission officials of working in favour of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
While voting was largely peaceful across the district, NUP officials say their candidates were sidelined through bureaucratic manipulation, misinformation, and threats that discouraged participation.
Isaac Joel Napokoli, NUP chairperson for Bubulo West Constituency, said the process was marred by “open bias” and intimidation.
“They warned parents not to let their children associate with NUP, branding us enemies of the state. Some parents withdrew their children from the race out of fear,” he said.
In Bunangabo 1 village, NUP supporters were stunned to find their candidate Derick Khisa missing from the ballot.
Napokoli alleged that Khisa’s nomination was mysteriously removed to allow an NRM candidate to run unopposed.
“The Electoral Commission officials are more or less NRM cadres. They tell us that if you want NUP, go to Kampala or Mbale City,” Napokoli added.
NUP mobilizer Alex Webisa, who won the Tserono youth vice chairperson slot, confirmed he had submitted his nomination alongside Khisa, but only his name appeared on the final list. “And the NRM candidate who went unopposed is not a resident of this village,” Webisa claimed.
In Tserono village, NUP supporters questioned how NRM’s Salume Goritia was nominated despite reportedly being out of the country.
The Electoral Commission has acknowledged the concern, with Manafwa District Election Administrator Gilbert Meru confirming that the matter is under investigation.
“We discovered that one nominated individual’s particulars belong to someone currently abroad. We are investigating how this candidate’s details made it into our nomination records and will take the necessary action,” Meru said.
Despite the hurdles, NUP managed several wins. In Tserono, it claimed seven of nine leadership positions, including chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary for finance.
In Bunangabo 1, the party secured three roles but lost the vice chairperson seat to NRM after its candidate withdrew, reportedly under pressure.
In Kubuyi Upper village, NUP’s Winnie Katami was elected unopposed due to the absence of other candidates, many of whom were reportedly away in boarding schools. In Kubuyi II, NUP took three positions, while NRM captured top leadership roles.
In Kubuyi I, five NUP candidates were disqualified over the use of photocopied nomination forms, handing most seats to NRM.
Napokoli admitted the party struggled to field candidates due to time constraints, lack of sensitization, and the absence of eligible youth concentrated in urban areas like Mbale and Kampala.
Meru dismissed the claims of widespread irregularities. “The elections were generally peaceful. We received only two official complaints out of over 1,300 villages. Claims like Khisa’s are unsupported—records show he never returned his nomination forms.”
He emphasized that the Electoral Commission remains neutral. “We’ve nominated candidates from all political affiliations, including independents. No group has been deliberately excluded.”
However, NUP insists the incidents in Manafwa reflect broader structural challenges facing opposition parties in local elections, including intimidation, misinformation, and administrative barriers.