Pictures from Wednesday's youth parish elections

ELECTION WATCH

Presented byJoseph Kizza

Wednesday's election of youth parish leaders was marred by chaos at some polling stations, as youths across the country chose their parish committees by lining up. Below are pictures from some of the polling stations:

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5:30pm  |  Contrasting reactions in Masaka

In Masaka city at Lions Nursery School polling station, these NRM party youths are seen jubilating after winning the youth parish elections in areas considered to be Opposition stronghold.

The same could not be said of these NUP supporters . . .

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1:30pm  |  Fresh elections at Baptist Church Luzira

Fresh elections have been held at the Baptist Church Luzira Parish polling station after a chaotic episode involving voters and the security personnel marred the process. Assistant returning officer Emmanuel Oryema Kenneth ordered for fresh polling.

Independent candidates are also taking part.

New Vision's Mpalanyi Ssentongo reports: "National Unity Platform (NUP) has boycotted the youth elections after the second round of verification using both the register and national IDs. Voting is going on without NUP supporters who are gathered at the entrance. They are now demanding that elections be postponed to tomorrow (Thursday, September 3, 2020)."

Below, voting for Secretary for Finance (Luzira Parish): NRM's Drake Ahimbisibwe faces off against independent Sarah Namusisi.

Earlier . . .

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12:51pm  |  Candidate rejects election results

Earlier, there was also been chaos at Luzira  Baptist Church polling station.

New Vision's Mpalanyi Ssentongo reports: "One candidate, dissatisfied with the election results, asked for a second round of verification after getting fewer voters than he had anticipated. Shots were fired to disperse rowdy crowds."

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12:22pm  |  The situation at Lungujja

New Vision's Lawrence Mulondo at Lungujja:

"A scuffle continues at Lungujja Parish polling station as a section of youths are demanding that their opponent provide their DR and nomination forms before elections proceed. They say people without these forms were smuggled into the polling station. They are also accusing Police of directly involving in the exercise as they are helping in counting of voters."

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12:10pm  |  Scenes of chaos

The election of youth parish leaders has been marred by chaotic scenes involving clashes between rowdy youths and security personnel, reports New Vision's Simon Peter Tumwine, who has been closely following events in Ndeeba.

Police personnel have had to restrain some youths.

At some point, Police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse rowdy crowds. In the picture below, a young man holds a tear gas canister.

Arrests were made during the fracas.

Police had to patrol the area after voting was stopped at the Victory Church Ndeeba polling station.

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11:30am  |  At Victory Church Ndeeba

New Vision's Simon Peter Tumwine has captured some of the moments at this polling station, where security has been ramped up. The social distancing guideline, one of the measures put in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, is not being observed at this polling station.

The turnout is high and the security personnel have been presented with a huge task of trying to establish order.

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While most of the voters are wearing masks, not all of them are wearing them the proper way. According to guidelines from experts, the face mask should cover the mouth and nose.

This voter needed to be reminded that a face mask is not for decoration and that wearing it like this puts him at risk of being infected with the coronavirus.

At this polling station, some voters appeared to have something to say to the security personnel.

The police officers did their best to keep the voters calm.

A human chain was formed . . .

There were episodes of confrontation between some of the voters and the security people.

Such were the scenes on a sweltering Wednesday mid-morning.

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11:20am  |  Baptist Church Luzira

The Nakawa division youth parish elections at Baptist Church Luzira. New Vision's Mpalanyi Ssentongo has been there to freeze the moments.

Assistant returning officer Emmanuel Oryema Kenneth is handling the process.

Like in other areas, many voters have showed up to vote for their leaders.

Security has also been deployed at this polling station.

Order must be observed at the polling station.

In an era of a coronavirus pandemic, officials have ensured that SOPs are followed, including sanitizing voters.

Taking no chances . . .

The election officials have had a busy morning.

This voter has his details checked.

Supporters of the different candidates have shown up to express their loyalty through voting.

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11:10am  |  At Lungujja Parish

New Vision's Lawrence Mulondo reports:

"Elections of parish youth committees at Lungujja parish have kicked off in high gear as the polling station presiding officer reads electorates on the voters register. Whoever enters the station has to be on the register and must have his or her national ID. Washing of hands and wearing of face masks in observance of the health ministry COVID-19 guidelines. Meanwhile, there was a scuffle as a section of youth were accusing polling the presiding officer of allowing youths without national IDs into the station.

Roadmap for elections for special interest groups (SIGs) committees: