State Minister for Youth, Dr. Balaam Ateenyi, has accused the National Unity Platform (NUP) of engaging in ballot stuffing during the ongoing Kawempe North By elections.

On Tursday, over 200000 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots accross several polling stattions in Kawempe, for the Member of Parliament and councilor posts. The MP seat fell vacant in January 2025, following the demise of the former MP Muhammed Ssegirinya.

By 7:30 am, most of the polling stations had started the voting process in accordance to the electoral commission guidelines that require at least a total of ten voters and agent to be present at the polling station before sealed ballots are opened.

In a shocking revelation, Minister Balaam, who is on the ground as one of the supervisors for the National Resistance Movement (NRM)party candidate Faridah Nambi, alleges that NUP printed 50,000 pre-ticked ballot papers in favor of their candidate, Nalukoola Luyimbazi, on Wednesday night.

According to him, authorities managed to seize 30,000 of these fraudulent ballots before they could be used. He also says the remaining 20,000 ballots are missing as the alleged NUP agents involved in the malpractice managed to flee the scene with them.

“We have concrete evidence of this electoral malpractice. Yesterday night while we were traversing and monitoring , we realised that the NUP had printed 50000 ballots , the accused fled the scene with 20000 but we managed to get 30000 pre ticked ballots. They printed to stuff the ballots.

Responding to allegations that the NRM was involved in the same malpractice in Namere, Kawempe, the minister dismissed the allegations stating that people trespassed to someone’s private residence without any official warrant and alleged untrue matters.

On Wednesday, a group of opposition figures and journalists from various media houses including Galaxy FM and TV , led by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament stormed the residence of an NRM supporter and alleged ballot stuffing.

Meanwhile, the minister for youths called for discipline and restraint from the locals especially the youth, urging them to desist from any form of violence within and without the polling stations.

NUP is yet to respond to the allegations.