Kampala, Uganda: The political storm surrounding the disqualification of Fiona Nakku from the NRM Female National Youth MP race deepened Monday evening after a letter allegedly signed by the ruling party’s Electoral Commission Chairman Dr. Tanga Odoi began circulating online, indicating her de-nomination on grounds of age ineligibility.
When contacted by DailyExpress to ascertain the authenticity of the letter, Dr. Odoi remained tight-lipped, only promising to “get back with a substantial statement.” By press time, he had not issued any clarification, leaving speculation rife on whether the letter was officially sanctioned by his office or leaked without his knowledge and authority.
The letter, dated August 18, copy of which DailyExpress has seen, cited a petition filed by youth delegate Amanya Aaron, which challenged Nakku’s eligibility to contest on account of her age, reportedly corroborated by records from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).
The circulation of the letter, however, has thrown the race into uncertainty as the Commission itself has not publicly declared its final position.
Coincidentally, Nakku convened a press conference later in the evening, where she reaffirmed her candidature, stressing that she is still in the race, althougb, declined to reveal her next course of action, leaving her supporters in suspense as the clock ticks toward the upcoming NRM youth elections.
The unfolding drama has sparked heated discussion within NRM’s youth structures, with some delegates questioning why a sensitive communication of such magnitude would leak before the candidate herself or the Secretariat had been formally addressed on the developments.
As things stand, it remains unclear whether the Electoral Commission will uphold the disqualification, or if Nakku’s team will mount a legal or political challenge to overturn the decision by Tanga. What is certain, however, is that the race for National Female Youth MP has now been thrown into unprecedented tension, with the ruling party’s internal cohesion again under the microscope.
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