UYD members storm EC headquarters, arrested over delay in petition feedback.

Four members of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP), have been arrested after storming the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Industrial area, Kampala, demanding action on long-ignored petitions over alleged fraud during last month's delegates conference in Mbarara.

Led by Michael Mpuuga, the group accuses the Commission of remaining silent for over three months and failing to address their concerns, despite national elections drawing near.

The four Uganda UYD with pumpkins on their heads engaged the Electoral Commission on Tuesday, 22^nd July 2025 to meet EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama for failing to reply to their petitions handed over to him for four months ago, asking him to solve the problems DP was dropped under

The petition highlights irregularities and disputes surrounding the DP delegates' conference held in Mbarara

UYD members at EC before being arrested

The Public Relations Officer EC, Mr. Paul Bukenya, said that the petition was received at EC and that they are handling it through their internal processes, urging all political actors to respect institutional procedures and engage the Commission through formal channels.

“We know the petitioners. We are in touch with them through their official contacts. The matter is before the Commission for consideration. You can’t issue ultimatums to the Commission that a matter must be resolved in a day or two.

Mr. Bukenya added that “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.”

PRO EC Mr Paul Bukenya speaking to journalists after the incident.

The disgruntled UYD members recently issued a seven-day ultimatum to Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC), demanding action on their petitions over alleged irregularities during last month’s DP delegates' conference in Mbarara.

The group claims that more than 10 petitions submitted to the EC regarding leadership disputes, constitution amendments, and election malpractice in the opposition party have gone unanswered for nearly three months.

“EC should come out and tell the country whether the recent DP delegates’ conference was conducted in accordance with the law,” said former UYD president Ismail Kirya told journalists in Kampala in a recent press conference.

On June 2, DP President General Norbert Mao was re-elected during a controversial delegates’ conference that saw him win 969 votes against Buikwe South MP Dr Michael Lulume Bayiga’s 339. Bayiga, a Mao critic, has since abandoned DP to join the newly launched People’s Front for Freedom opposition party.

The Mbarara delegates' event was marred by internal splits, claims of irregularities, and accusations of procedural violations, triggering the petitions.

The aggrieved youth leaders warn that if the EC fails to uphold transparency and accountability within registered political parties, similar unrest may spread to other formations and threaten democratic stability.