Mubende, Uganda: Grassroots supporters of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have issued a strong appeal to top party leaders and security chiefs to intervene and ensure a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process ahead of the party’s internal primaries.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, and Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba are being asked to act swiftly against what supporters call growing bias and looming violence within the party’s internal structures.
Cadres from various districts voiced their grievances while attending the ongoing Presidential tour on the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Mubende. They cited persistent allegations that District Police Commanders (DPCs) and NRM District Registrars in areas like Kayunga, Ssembabule, and Kamuli are openly working in favor of particular candidates, compromising both security and the credibility of the party’s primaries.
Supporters are demanding an urgent reshuffle of registrars who have been petitioned or accused of partisanship, and transfers of DPCs suspected of collaborating with certain politicians. They warn that failure to act could result in a repeat of the violent scenes that marred the 2020 NRM primaries.
“We trust Dr. Tanga Odoi and his national team, but at the district level, we have lost confidence in some registrars. These individuals are working for politicians and cannot deliver a credible process,” said one party loyalist.
In Kayunga, senior NRM cadre Mr. Kidu Makubuya accused the District Registrar of colluding with NRM District Chairperson Moses Karangwa to boost the candidacy of Karangwa’s daughter. Makubuya called on the IGP and NRM leadership to immediately transfer the Registrar and DPC, warning that the current atmosphere is tense and marked by intimidation.
Joab Muteesa, the National NRM Mobilizer, echoed the concerns, stating, “If DPCs are not reshuffled and biased registrars are not removed, we should expect violence. People are living in fear—fear of being arrested simply for supporting a different candidate. That is not what President Museveni stands for. He is a man of peace and fairness.”
Grassroots supporters insist that a failure to address these issues risks damaging the party’s image and weakening trust in its leadership. They say ensuring fairness in the upcoming primaries is not only vital to unity but also key to strengthening President Museveni’s vision and legacy.
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