Luuka, Uganda: A spate of chaos has rocked the NRM grassroots elections in Luuka District, with angry locals accusing the party’s National Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, of orchestrating confusion and bias during the rerun of the Women’s League elections in Iganga B Village, Irongo Sub County.
The controversy follows a disputed contest in which former Minister and Woman MP for Luuka District, Hon. Esther Mbayo, lost to Ms. Justin Muwaga alias Panadol but later petitioned for a fresh election citing irregularities, including claims of non-residents voting.
The rerun, held Tuesday at Busiiro Secondary School in Waibuga Sub County, nearly 30 kilometers from the original voting area, was marred by further accusations of bias and manipulation, with locals claiming the voter register had been illegally altered.
“He signed the guidelines himself and yet came here with a different register, locking out my supporters,” said Muwaga.
According to the community, many voters were disenfranchised after Dr. Odoi allegedly imposed a new rule restricting voters to women aged 35 and above, contrary to the NRM’s official guidelines, which permit all females aged 18 and above to participate.
In a viral video clip from the election, Muwaga is seen confronting Dr. Odoi with the party’s guidelines before he appears to push her away. “What’s so special about this election that Tanga Odoi had to drive all the way from Kampala? He never appeared during our initial village elections,” a local angrily questioned.
Frustrated youths in Luuka have since declared a ‘Black Friday’ protest slated for May 16, 2025, and vowed to boycott sub-county elections unless the irregularities are addressed by Thursday evening.
“He came and only organized fresh elections for the Women’s League with many anomalies. Some voters who were elected youth leaders were barred on age grounds, yet they were eligible,” one of the youths told DailyExpress.
They clarified their anger is not directed at the NRM party, but rather at Dr. Tanga Odoi personally, whom they accuse of having personal interests in the outcome. They also claim Dr. Odoi has close ties to Hon. Mbayo through joint business ventures in Kampala.
Efforts to conduct parish-level elections on Wednesday collapsed after polling officials failed to show up.
DailyExpress has learned the process was postponed in a letter signed by NRM Electoral Commission Vice Chairperson Mr. Jachan Fred Omach Mandir.
“I called the admin and NRM registrar, and they said Tanga Odoi stopped the process because Mbayo is unwell. Can you imagine people waiting all day at the polling station for nothing?” said Luuka Deputy RDC Sembalirwa Hassan.
While speaking to the media at Busiiro SS, Dr. Odoi blamed Muwaga’s supporters for refusing to abide by the voters’ register, a claim Muwaga flatly denied.
Local leaders now fear the actions of senior NRM officials like Dr. Odoi could erode support for President Yoweri Museveni in the 2026 general elections, just as it did in 2021.
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