The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Students from the West Nile region have tasked the Electoral Commission to provide clear mechanisms for the regulation of security agencies during the electoral process.
The students raised the concerns to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon who was in Arua for a civic engagement exercise on Friday.
The engagement held at Mvara Secondary School in Arua City was part of the preparations for the 2026 general elections.
Mathew Okello Innocent said heavy security presence during elections often scares young voters from participating in the process.
Malcom Savior, a senior Five student at Mvara secondary school challenged the electoral commission to ensure that security agencies conduct themselves by the law.
According to Saviour, without clear mechanisms, security agencies could be used by political actors for selfish ends.
Elvis Drileba, a student at Mvara secondary recalls that during the last general elections, several people especially the youth lost their lives. He suggested the need by the electoral commission to prevent such bloodshed in future elections.
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon said is is impossible to have elections without security in the country because elections by their nature are about contesting for power. But he hastened to add that security should know their roles so as not to interfere with the electoral process.
Violence and human rights abuses marred the last election cycle in the country, in which at least 54 people lost their lives and others injured after security forces clamped down on people protesting the arrest of opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi in November 2020.
