Uganda: Delays Mar Youth, PWDs District Elections

21 January 2026

Voting for the District Male Youth Representative and the District Female Representative for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) was disrupted by delays on Tuesday, with the youth election yet to commence by 2:00pm due to low turnout and disagreements between rival candidate camps.

Election officials said several eligible voters had not arrived at the polling venue by late morning, slowing the start of the exercise.

Some officials suggested that the delegates may have been engaged in last-minute mobilisation efforts.

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The delay in the youth election was further attributed to misunderstandings and concerns raised by the two candidates and their supporters, which temporarily stalled the process.

The contest for District Male Youth Representative pits Javira Nkwatsibwe of the People's Front for Freedom (PFF) against Edwin Akandwanaho of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Electoral officials cited late mobilisation of delegates as a key factor affecting the timely commencement of voting.

The youth representatives are elected by members of parish, sub-county and district youth executive committees, making the presence of delegates essential for the process to proceed.

Meanwhile, voting for the District Female Representative for Persons with Disabilities concluded successfully and was awaiting tallying by press time.

The race features Kobusingye Debora of the NRM and Musimisekyi Asumpta, an independent candidate.

The Electoral Commission, together with security personnel, continued to monitor the situation at the polling venue as officials worked to resolve outstanding issues between the youth candidates' camps to allow voting to proceed.

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