By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Police in Kampala on Monday arrested four youth leaders from the Democratic Party (DP) after they attempted to forcefully access the Electoral Commission (EC) offices in Luzira.
The arrested individuals include former Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) President Ismail Kiirya, Anthony Wadimba, Michael Kabenge, and Julius Ddumba. The group had stormed the EC premises demanding to meet Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC chairperson, over what they claim is a deliberate delay in addressing their petition regarding the disputed DP Delegates Conference held in Mbarara last month.
According to the youth, the June 2025 conference was fraught with electoral irregularities, intimidation, and illegal constitutional amendments, leading to the election of new DP leaders under contested circumstances.
The petitioners are demanding that the EC nullifies the outcomes of the Mbarara meeting and compels the DP to adhere to its constitutional procedures in line with the law governing political parties.
Police swiftly intervened when the group attempted to force entry into the Commission’s premises. The four were arrested, bundled into a waiting police patrol vehicle, and driven to an undisclosed location.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the incident, the EC’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Paul Bukenya, confirmed that the Commission is in possession of the petitions and is handling them in accordance with its internal processes.
“We know the petitioners. We are in touch with them through their official contacts. The matter is before the Commission for consideration,” said Mr. Bukenya. “You can’t issue ultimatums to the Commission that a matter must be resolved in a day or two.”
He emphasized that the EC is dealing with multiple petitions, including those related to Special Interest Group (SIG) elections, and must follow due process in each case.
Mr. Bukenya also clarified that the EC could not meet the group on Monday as no formal request for a meeting had been made in advance.
“We can’t have a meeting today because none was scheduled. The Commission was not available for such an impromptu engagement,” he said. “However, we will communicate to the petitioners in due course with appropriate guidance and the Commission’s position once the matter has been fully considered.”
He urged political actors to respect institutional procedures and engage the Commission through formal channels.
The Electoral Commission is mandated to oversee the operations of political parties in Uganda and ensure they comply with their respective constitutions and the country’s electoral laws.
