Kololo, Kampala: President Yoweri Museveni Wednesday suspended the elections for the NRM National Youth League after chaos erupted overnight protesting the declaration of Tanga Collins, son of the party’s Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, as the elected Chairperson of the Youth League.
Collins, according to the results declared by his father, had secured 1,567 votes against Brenda Kiconco’s 1,355, when he was announced the winner of the hotly-contested race in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
However, the process was shortly overshadowed by violent clashes, disputes over delegates’ lists, and running battles between youths, security forces, and election officials.
By dawn, security operatives had resorted to beating rowdy youths and party supporters in efforts to restore order.
Addressing the disgruntled youth delegates through a phone call, President Museveni, who is also the National Chairman of the ruling party that has been in power since 1986, announced the suspension of the electoral process and pledged to personally oversee a repeat election in the near future.
“The tribunal should come in and sort it out. I have told them to give you Shs500,000 to each of you so that we can have a separate conference for the youth league and entrepreneurs,” Museveni said. “I will also be there myself. So please get out of that place so that they can prepare for the bigger conference that is coming,” he added.
Chaos in the youth vote
The youth polls spiraled into disorder late Tuesday, with rival groups accusing the commission of bias and list manipulation. By 10 pm, Brenda Kiconco, popularly known as Omukiga, rallied her supporters to boycott the vote, alleging irregularities.
At the tally centre, a frustrated Dr. Tanga Odoi, whose son was a contestant, was heard shouting: “Who is Kiconco? All youth go to the pavilion. Police, police, police, where are you? If there is no police in this country, I am going to call for police.”
But the crowd fired back, mocking him with chants of: “Who is Dr. Tanga?”
The credibility of the process was further questioned after Collins’ victory, with many delegates accusing the commission of conflict of interest and list tampering.
Dr. Odoi later admitted exasperation, saying he was presiding over a situation he had “never studied for” during his years at Makerere University.
The National Youth League chairperson seat is one of six positions under the Special Interest Groups that feed into the ruling party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), whose elections are expected to be finalized this afternoon at the NRM National Conference happening at Kololo Independence Grounds.
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