The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has won all four regional Youth Member of Parliament seats following elections held this week for the 2026–2031 parliamentary term.
The polls, conducted between January 28 and 29, 2026, were organised under Uganda’s special interest group representation system, where youth MPs are elected by electoral college delegates drawn from district and sub-county youth leaders across the country.
Results released by the Electoral Commission show that NRM candidates emerged victorious in the Northern, Central, Eastern and Western regions, continuing the party’s dominance in special interest group elections.
In the Northern Region, Elma Kapel Challa (NRM) was declared the winner after polling 1,245 votes. She defeated Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate Elizabeth Shakira Wacha, who garnered 343 votes, and Democratic Party (DP) contender Elizabeth Amolo, who received eight votes. The results were announced in Arua City.
For the Central Region, Samuel Begiira (NRM), the Gomba District Youth League chairperson, secured a landslide victory with 1,001 votes. His closest challenger managed only 46 votes, according to official tallies.
In the Western Region, Mwine Tumwebaze (NRM) won with 1,557 votes. However, the election attracted controversy, with some rival candidates alleging voter bribery and irregularities during the polling process. Electoral officials said they would review any formal complaints lodged.
The Eastern Region seat was won by Wanyama Judas Thadeo (NRM), completing a clean sweep for the ruling party in the youth category. Detailed vote tallies for the Eastern contest were not immediately available in public reports, but electoral officials confirmed his victory.
Youth Members of Parliament represent young people in the national legislature and are part of Uganda’s affirmative action framework aimed at ensuring the inclusion of special interest groups, including youth, women, workers, persons with disabilities and the elderly. Youth MPs are expected to champion policies related to employment, education, entrepreneurship and participation of young people in governance.
While NRM supporters celebrated the victories as a sign of strong grassroots mobilisation among the youth, opposition figures expressed concern over the conduct of the elections, citing allegations of inducements and an uneven playing field.
The newly elected youth MPs will take office in the 12th Parliament following the 2026 general elections, joining other legislators to represent the interests of Uganda’s predominantly young population.
