Kampala, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed that at least 333 individuals have been arrested and 48 charged in connection with irregularities in the NRM parliamentary primaries, following his directive for a crackdown on election malpractice within the ruling party.
In a statement released on Saturday, July 26, the President said the arrests were part of a wider effort to restore credibility to NRM’s internal electoral processes, after the chaotic and fraudulent incidents that marred the July 17 parliamentary flagbearer elections.
“Up to now, a total of 333 persons have been arrested and 48 of these have been charged in court, 13 of whom are NRM district registrars,” Museveni said. “They are to face prosecution in connection with, mainly, altering the results.”
He added that operations against other culprits—such as those accused of voter bribery—were ongoing, and he encouraged the public to expose any further criminality related to the primaries.
The crackdown appears to have yielded immediate results. Museveni praised Thursday’s (July 24) NRM primaries for LC5 chairpersons, mayors and local council leaders as significantly more peaceful and fraud-free compared to the earlier contests.
“This is not bad at all if you bear in mind that this was, again, mid-week and on a working day… The more peaceful and fraud-free nature of the exercise is on account of the decisive anti-crime actions we took,” Museveni noted.
According to reports reaching the President, over 7.95 million NRM members participated in Thursday’s elections, with several districts still submitting tallies and others having candidates go through unopposed.
Museveni Defends ‘Kurongoora’ Against Bribery Claims
The President also used the opportunity to respond to allegations by opposition legislator Hon. Muhammad Kivumbi, who accused him of promoting a culture of bribery by giving out “brown envelopes.”
Museveni dismissed the accusation, clarifying that the money he gives out publicly is part of state-sanctioned recognition known as Kurongoora—a reward for cultural performers, elderly citizens, and community contributors—not political inducements.
“That brown envelope is a glorious one. It is the official envelope of the Republic of Uganda, given by the President to deserving people,” Museveni explained, citing a recent UGX 5 million gift to a group of Bwola dancers in Patongo as an example.
“Hon. Kivumbi is not the President of Uganda and has no budget for Kurongoora. He can offer a modest figure to Kivuuwa dancers, like offertory in church,” he added.
Museveni further warned that the practice of vote-buying is alien to the values of the NRM and called for joint efforts to “eradicate this mistake.”
“The use of money for politics, beyond the legitimate needs of logistics, is in spite of my vision and that of the NRM—and not because of us,” he said.
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