By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of fraudulently nominating party members under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in the upcoming national youth elections.
The allegations stem from an incident in Soroti District where an FDC candidate for Secretary for Finance, Joel Ogwang, was reportedly nominated as an NRM flag bearer for Secretary for Sports and Culture. The FDC described the move as fraudulent and a threat to electoral integrity.
“We have learned that the Electoral Commission nominated FDC candidates and later released them as NRM candidates,” the party said in a statement issued over the weekend.
FDC Electoral Commission chairperson Hon. Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda said the party has officially petitioned EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama over the matter.
“As FDC, we have submitted this complaint to the EC office, and they promised to handle it carefully,” Toterebuka said.
Toterebuka made the remarks on Monday while addressing the media during the party’s weekly press conference at their headquarters in Najjanankumbi, stating that they are still awaiting a formal response from the Electoral Commission.
The opposition party has further demanded that the EC release the official list of all registered voters in the Special Interest Group (SIG) elections, which include the youth polls, to ensure transparency.
The village youth committee elections are scheduled to take place on June 19, with thousands of young people across the country expected to vote for their representatives.
Key Dates for SIGs Polls
June 16: Village Older Persons Committees
June 17: Village PWD Committees
June 19: Village Youth Committees
June 20–23: Compilation of Parish/Ward SIGs Registers
June 26–27: Nomination of Parish/Ward SIGs Committee Candidates
June 30–July 5: Campaign meetings at the Parish/Ward level.
July 4 to July 8: Polling for Parish/Ward SIG Committees.
July 9–18: Polling for Sub-County, Town & Municipal Division level activities take place.
July 21 to August 4: Municipality and City Division elections.
August 6–29: District and City-level elections and National Youth Council elections.
The Electoral Commission is yet to comment publicly on the allegations of ghost candidates.
