Namutumba, Uganda: The Woman Member of Parliament for Namutumba District, Hon. Mariam Naigaga, Friday lost her bid to become the district NRM Chairperson after a hotly contested race won by the Assistant RDC Simon Menya with 480 votes.
Hon. Naigaga, who reportedly opted not to cast her vote after noticing dwindling support, lost to Menya in an election that drew high voter turnout across the district.
Hours after Menya was declared the winner, social media was awash with claims of election cancellation and allegations of irregularities, including a possible rerun.
However, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi dismissed the allegations, confirming that the elections were free of violence and declaring the results valid. He clarified that only two positions, Vice Chairperson and Secretary for Publicity, were not filled and that a supplementary election would be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Speaking to DailyExpress, Namutumba District NRM Registrar Mr. Magobi Bovani William confirmed the development, noting that he had received official communication from Dr. Odoi affirming the legitimacy of the electoral process.
“Dr. Odoi clarified that only two positions of Vice Chairperson and Secretary Publicity will be elected on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Busoga Nsadhu Memorial Institute, as the rest of the positions were elected following the right procedures,” said Mr. Magobi at the NRM district offices.
He further revealed that efforts to present the official communication to Hon. Naigaga were unsuccessful.
“When Hon. Naigaga asked for the communication from Dr. Tanga Odoi, I got my phone and showed her what they told us to do, but she couldn’t be convinced. We have our official communication platform as registrars where guidance is sought,” Magobi explained.
Repeated attempts to reach Hon. Naigaga for comment were unsuccessful as she did not answer calls or respond to WhatsApp messages.
Elsewhere, State Minister for Housing and Bukono County MP Hon. Princess Persis Namuganza was elected Secretary for Finance, while Nakisita Betty, an aspiring Woman MP for Namutumba, was voted General Secretary.
Minister Namuganza applauded voters for their trust and reaffirmed her commitment to the NRM, which she described as a mass movement.
The newly elected NRM Chairperson for Namutumba, Simon Menya, thanked the electorate for their overwhelming support and pledged effective service. Jubilations erupted among his supporters upon the declaration of his victory.
In the wider Busoga sub-region, NRM internal elections concluded successfully across 12 districts. Among the notable winners were Hajj Walubi Abubakar (Iganga), Raymond Mukisa (Namayingo), Edwrin Lufafa (Jinja City), Moses Batwala (Jinja District), and Hon. Aggrey Bagiire (Mayuge).
Others included Hon. Solomon Silwanyi (Bugiri), Hon. Hashim Magogo (Buyende), Bazanya Ramathan (Kamuli), Hon. Stephen Kisa (Luuka), Nelson Gagawala Wambuzi (Kaliro), and the former LCV Chairperson of Iganga, who secured victory in Bugweri.
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