By KT Reporter
The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) and Democratic Front (DF) candidates in Masaka are rallying their supporters around a common vote-protection strategy ahead of Thursday’s polls on January 15.
Despite their apparent political rivalry and lack of direct coordination, the candidates share a similar approach—urging supporters to closely monitor polling stations to ensure their votes are protected throughout the electoral process.
Florence Namayanja, the Mayor of Masaka City and NUP Greater Masaka Regional Campaigns Coordinator, says that beyond accredited polling agents stationed inside polling centres, the party has also mobilised supporters to remain nearby and maintain a high level of vigilance.
She explains that NUP continues to orient its election vigilante teams, which will monitor all activities at polling stations until the declaration of results.
“We cannot take any chances, and we want to close any loopholes through which we can be cheated. Our teams are better organised, and they are going to be peaceful. Their responsibility is to ensure that the process is transparent—from the issuing of ballot papers to the tallying of results,” Namayanja noted.
Namayanja adds that the mobilisation efforts are in line with guidance from the party’s presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, who has repeatedly urged supporters not to leave polling stations after casting their votes.
Similarly, Dr Abed Bwanika, the Democratic Front (DF) parliamentary candidate for Kimanya–Kabonera Division in Masaka City, has asked his supporters to disregard any instructions that stop them from protecting their votes at polling stations. Bwanika says there is a need to ensure the election is conducted transparently to eliminate loopholes for malpractice.
He has appealed to the Electoral Commission to accommodate voters who remain near polling stations as part of the vote-protection process.
Notably, the Electoral Commission and security agencies have discouraged the deployment of unauthorised election agents, arguing that their presence could cause congestion and chaos at polling stations.
However, Bwanika says his supporters have been advised to strictly follow electoral procedures and remain in positions where they can clearly observe all activities at the polling stations.
On the political front, Bwanika appealed to voters to support his re-election bid, pledging to advocate for fair sharing of state resources across all regions of the country.
He expressed concern that despite its high population density, the Buganda region receives fewer funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM) due to having fewer parishes compared to other regions.
Bwanika pledged to lead a campaign pressing the government to split existing parishes and create new administrative units to increase central government financial transfers to Buganda.
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