Busoga Youth Leaders Rally Support Amid Blocked NUP Protest Vote Launch

Youth leaders in the Busoga sub-region have called for active participation in the upcoming youth elections, following the Uganda Police Force’s decision to block the launch of the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) “Youth Protest Vote” campaign. The campaign, which was set to mobilize young people ahead of the elections, was halted on Monday by police authorities. 

According to NUP, the initiative was a peaceful strategy to encourage political engagement among youth, particularly those frustrated by what the party describes as systemic injustices. Addressing the press at the NUP regional office in Jinja City, NUP’s Eastern Uganda leader, Nantaba Maria Ledochowska, condemned the police action, accusing them of partisan enforcement and defending “a dictatorship.” 

“Our campaign was about mobilizing young people to participate in the electoral process. It’s unfortunate that the police are used to frustrate such peaceful initiatives,” said Nantaba. She urged youth across the region to organize themselves, mobilize their peers, and check their names in the Electoral Commission register in preparation for the youth elections slated for June 17, 2025. 

She also called for a registration drive between June 2 and June 10 to enable unregistered youth to participate. Targeting districts such as Namutumba, Luuka, Iganga, and the broader Busoga region, Nantaba emphasized the need to secure grassroots victories. She framed the “Protest Vote” as a response to ongoing issues such as unemployment, corruption, torture, abductions, and economic hardship. “We want to elect leaders who will bring real change from the grassroots up,” she stressed. 

The meeting was part of efforts to verify the register of NUP Youth Council members in the region. Mukove Jamal, NUP’s Assistant Youth Leader for Eastern Uganda, voiced concern over what he described as the government's continued neglect of youth in Busoga. “President Museveni visited Busoga recently, but poverty is still deepening. We can’t allow this to continue,” Jamal said. 

He lauded the current leadership within COSASE and Parliament, noting a rise in “mindful leadership” nationwide. “We are sweeping from the villages to the national level, with Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert as our leader,” he added. Nanga Ramathan, another youth leader, underscored the importance of sensitization and civic education ahead of the elections. 

He urged young people not to be intimidated by threats or acts of violence. “We are not just here to lament—we are here to act,” Ramathan declared. He also condemned the continued detention of NUP supporters Smart, Akram Kivumbi, and Gaddafi, who are reportedly being held in Masaka prisons. The youth leaders pledged to continue mobilizing for participation in what they called a pivotal election for Uganda’s future leadership.