Africa-Press – Uganda. Youth leaders from the National Unity Platform (NUP) in eastern Uganda have launched a bold grassroots campaign dubbed the “Youth Protest Vote” ahead of next month’s elections, vowing to sweep all positions despite recent security setbacks.
The campaign was officially launched on Tuesday, February 29, at the NUP regional offices in Jinja, Busoga subregion.
The event attracted youth leaders from various districts, unified by a mission to mobilize and defend the youth vote in the upcoming electoral process.
Led by Maria Nataabi, the NUP Secretary for Youth in Eastern Uganda, the leaders announced that they have started registering 50 youths per village.
These recruits will be tasked with not only mobilising voters but also safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process by preventing vote rigging.
“We are not backing down. We have started the registration of 50 youths per village who will be responsible for guarding our vote. This is a protest vote against injustice, intimidation, and electoral manipulation,” said Nataabi, who is also aspiring for Butembe County parliamentary seat.
Jamal Mukuve a youth leader in Bugiri is calling upon youths in Eastern Uganda to vote for only NUP candidates
“We want to elect only NUP leaders from village to presidency and the forthcoming youth elections is a precursor to what shall happen in 2026 general elections,” Mukuve said.
The leaders also expressed outrage over what they termed as intimidation by security forces, who on Monday blocked the launch of their campaign at the NUP headquarters.
They condemned the action as unconstitutional and aimed at silencing opposition voices.
Ashraf Kiyaga, a NUP youth member from Jinja, stated, “The youth are awake now. We won’t be scared into silence. Our numbers and energy are our power.”
Another party member, Ramadhan Nanga, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the determination of the youth to defend their democratic rights. “We are peaceful, but we are resolute. We shall protect our votes and our future,” he said.
Nanga condemned the rampant abduction and detention of NUP supporters in the country.
“We condemn the selective arrests and abduction of our comrades by security agencies, a case in point is the recent disappearance of Edward Ssebuufu aka Eddie Mutwe, Ssenyonjo aka Gaza Media among others” he said
The Youth Protest Vote campaign is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, with more villages and districts being mobilized. According to the organizers, the campaign is not only about winning seats but also about raising political consciousness among young people across the region.
The NUP youth leaders remain defiant, stating that despite intimidation and interference, their commitment to a free and fair electoral process remains unshaken.
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