Mercy Kanyesigye, the National Female Youth MP-elect, has raised concerns over the recently concluded youth elections, saying they were marred by voter bribery, intimidation and threats allegedly carried out by security officers.
The elections were held on February 6 2026 in Hoima and were conducted through an electoral college system. Kanyesigye won with 216 votes, narrowly defeating Diana Ampaire of the NRM, who polled 198 votes out of 443 cast.
Other candidates included Julia Muhumuza, who garnered 24 votes, and Edith Namande of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who received one vote.
“To be honest, this was not an easy race at all. It was an election where all the odds were against me and my team of brave young people,” Kanyesigye said at a press breifing in Kampala.
Her victory was rejected by Ampaire who petitioned court, arguing that the elections were not free and fair.
However, the court dismissed the case this week on the grounds that the ballot boxes could not be recounted because they had been tampered with.
Now officially elected, Kanyesigye says she has embarked on consultations with young people across the country on how to improve youth welfare.
She says she intends to engage stakeholders in the youth sector to find lasting solutions to challenges affecting young people, especially unemployment.
Although the government runs several programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) and the Parish Development Model (PDM), Kanyesigye argues that many young people have not fully benefited from them.
She says she will propose the creation of a special youth desk to help young people access government programmes more easily and ensure that resources reach the intended beneficiaries.
Post Views: 13
