Sironko, Uganda:- Tension is mounting in Elgon Region’s Sironko District ahead of Friday’s NRM district elections, with fresh allegations emerging that the Minister of State for Karamoja, Hon. Florence Nambozo, is allegedly plotting to disrupt the polls.
Sources that spoke to DailyExpress on Wednesday explained that the minister, who is also the Woman MP for Sironko, recently convened a covert meeting with known gang leaders at a hotel in Mbale, where plans were reportedly discussed to cause chaos during the election process.
The plot, sources allege, is intended to destabilize the process and create grounds to challenge the outcome should she lose to her main rival, Lumolo.
Hon. Nambozo is reportedly facing stiff competition from Lumolo, a fellow NRM stalwart, who has steadily gained grassroots support.
Political observers claim that the latest development mirrors previous incidents during the recently concluded village, parish, and sub-county NRM elections in Sironko, where accusations of intimidation and electoral sabotage were also raised.
The NRM Electoral Commission in Kampala is said to have previously summoned Hon. Nambozo and ordered her to withdraw from the sub-county level race and issue an apology over her conduct.
She reportedly complied under protest, a move now viewed by some party insiders as a temporary retreat before a bigger confrontation.
Disturbing reports also suggest that Hon. Nambozo has threatened local security officials with dismissal or transfers, claiming to be acting on orders from President Yoweri Museveni to eliminate Lumolo from the party. The threats have caused anxiety among security personnel, with many unsure whether to comply or risk repercussions.
Despite public concern, regional security authorities have remained silent, even as residents express fear of possible violence during the polls. Several citizens have vowed to resist what they call “a tyrannical grip on Sironko’s political space.”
“People are tired of intimidation and threats. We want free and fair elections where leaders are chosen on merit, not coercion,” said one concerned resident.
Since assuming ministerial office, Hon. Nambozo has been repeatedly accused of using her position to undermine internal party democracy and intimidate her political opponents. Grassroots leaders accuse her of attempting to monopolize political power in Sironko through fear and manipulation.
Civic leaders are now urging the NRM Electoral Commission and national security bodies to deploy neutral and visible enforcement at the polling center. They are calling for only accredited delegates, journalists, and designated security personnel to be allowed inside the voting venue.
The Friday election is seen as a critical test for the NRM’s internal democratic processes and will likely influence broader debates about political accountability and party discipline ahead of the 2026 general elections.
By press time on Wednesday, the Minister was yet to respond to the allegations and efforts to reach out to her for a direct comment remained futile with unanswered repititive calls and engagement with her team.
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