Arrested UYD Leaders Slapped with Common Nuisance Charges

Police have slapped four Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) leaders with common nuisance charges following their arrest outside the Electoral Commission headquarters. 

The leaders being held at Kabalagala Police Station are: Kirya Ismail (33), UYD Secretary General from Kawala; Antony Wadimba (35) from Kayunga; Julius Damba (32) from Kawala; and Michael Punge (29), UYD President from Entebbe.

The UYD leaders, waving flags and carrying protest materials, were intercepted and brutally arrested by a joint security team of the Uganda Police Force and the UPDF after being denied access to the Electoral Commission premises for nearly 20 minutes. 

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the suspects were arrested after turning violent outside the Electoral Commission headquarters, despite being advised to schedule a meeting with the commission’s chairperson.

Before their arrest, the UYD leaders had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Electoral Commission, demanding immediate action over alleged fraud during the DP’s Mbarara delegates’ conference, which resulted in Norbert Mao’s re-election.  The group wants the EC to nullify the results of the delegates’ conference under its mandate.

Paul Bukenya, the Electoral Commission’s deputy spokesperson, confirmed that the commission had received several petitions related to the Mbarara DP delegates’ conference.  

While the matter is under consideration, Bukenya condemned the UYD’s violent actions and ultimatum, emphasising the need for peaceful resolution.