Entebbe, Uganda: The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has resolved that the suspended Youth and Entrepreneur elections will be held afresh on Thursday, September 18, 2025, this time at the district level.
The decision was taken during CEC’s 1st sitting of the 5th CEC, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe, on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
The move follows weeks of turbulence in the party’s youth structures, marked by petitions and the nullification of results that had declared Collins Tanga, son of NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi, as NRM Youth League Chairperson.
The NRM CEC also resolved that the voter register will be released early to candidates to promote transparency, while election preparations will be coordinated with the Police and other security agencies.
In a critical resolution, the sitting directed Dr. Tanga to step aside from managing the Youth elections as recommended by the NRM Elections Tribunal, handing the mandate of oversight for both the Youth and Entrepreneur elections to his deputy, Hon. Jachan Omach, and other Commissioners of the Electoral Commission.
The sidelining of Dr. Tanga Odoi marks a rare public rebuke of the long-serving NRM Electoral Commission boss, whose role has been questioned in several internal contests.
However, despite the CEC directive, reports emerging from the districts indicate that Dr. Tanga Odoi is still exerting influence on registrars despite the directive. Several youth leaders allege he is using his authority to pressure district election officials to align processes in favor of his son, Collins Tanga.
“We are aware that despite CEC’s resolution, Dr. Tanga Odoi is still instructing district registrars on how to handle the register and polling arrangements. This is unacceptable and undermines the very spirit of fairness that the Tribunal called for,” one disgruntled youth aspirant told DailyExpress.
The allegations have heightened suspicion within the party, with some members warning that, unless firmly checked, Dr. Odoi’s influence could compromise the credibility of the fresh polls.
For now, the September 18 elections will be a litmus test not just for the youth leadership, but for the party’s ability to uphold credibility in its own democratic processes.
Other CEC Resolutions
The NRM CEC also agreed to establish an ad hoc Committee to examine remuneration for leaders at lower levels, to be chaired by Rt. Hon. Anita Among (2nd National Vice Chairperson, Female), alongside Secretary General Richard Todwong, Entrepreneurs League Chairperson, Al Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba, Hon. Haruna Kasolo, Lt. (Rtd.) Mushabe Moses, Kobusingye Adrine, and Hon. Rose Namayanja. The Committee will report back in one month.
The meeting further emphasized a renewed focus on patriotism over careerism, and on interests rather than identity politics, with President Museveni emphasizing the party’s role in guiding Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
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