The Democratic Front (DF) party candidates in Masaka have urged parents to take a more proactive role in advising their children against participating in protests linked to the forthcoming general elections.
Juliet Kakande Nakabuye, the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament and also the DF National Women’s League Leader, urged parents to advise their children to avoid confrontations with security agencies that could result in arrests during the election period.
While addressing supporters at Luvule Playground in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, Nakabuye said the party would not want to witness a repeat of the 2021 general election incidents, during which several youths in the area were arrested and others maimed by security operatives.
Nakabuye expressed concern over the many political activists who remain incarcerated and others who sustained injuries in the pursuit of political change, which she said was often poorly planned.
She noted that while DF appreciates the desire by many Ugandans to achieve political change, the actors, especially the youth, must remain cautious of pretentious opposition leaders who mobilise them for risky actions that expose them to confrontations with security forces.
“We still have many people stuck in the claws of state security agencies, and we would not want to see more youth suffering the same fate,” she said.
According to Nakabuye, the previous election cycle registered numerous cases of security brutality in the area, with the majority of victims being young people, some of whom are still recovering. She challenged parents to openly guide and caution their children, warning that some opposition politicians are not truthful in what they preach and may put the youth at risk.
Michael Mulindwa Nakumusana, the Nyendo-Mukungwe Division Chairperson and a contestant for the Masaka City Mayoral seat, also warned the youth against being swept away by political excitement, which he said rarely delivers the desired goal of regime change.
Nakumusana observed that the opposition has been infiltrated by government agents who spy and set traps, urging young people to remain alert and avoid falling victim to such schemes.
Meanwhile, Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the DF Party President and Member of Parliament for Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, appealed to voters to remain tolerant and promote peace within their communities throughout the election cycle.
“You do not need to abuse or fight one another in the name of elections. This exercise will pass and should not divide us or create enmity because of differing political beliefs. Let us embrace mutual respect and use persuasion to win support,” Mpuuga said.
The caution from DF leaders comes amid heightened tensions between the Electoral Commission and security agencies on one side, and leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) on the other, over the deployment of what authorities describe as unauthorised agents at polling stations.
NUP has been mobilising its supporters to remain at polling stations after voting, arguing that this will deter electoral malpractice. However, the Electoral Commission and security agencies have labelled the move rebellious and have issued warnings against the party’s plan.
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