Kampala, Uganda: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi has once again come under the spotlight over allegations of interference in the party’s youth league elections, with reports claiming he is intimidating district registrars to mobilize support for his son, Collins Tanga.
Collins was recently stripped of his victory as NRM Youth League Chairperson after the party’s Election Disputes Tribunal upheld a consolidated petition led by Kiconco Brenda, Wilson Otto and Mackline Natukwasa.
The tribunal panel, chaired by counsel John Musiime, ruled that Dr. Tanga’s involvement in an election where his son was a candidate amounted to a conflict of interest and therefore declared the victory of Collins null and void.
“The law of natural justice cannot allow a father to preside over an election where his son is a contestant. This was a clear conflict of interest,” Musiime noted in the 17-page ruling delivered last week, ordering a fresh poll where Dr. Tanga was instructed to “stay away” from the exercise when it is re-held.
However, youth leaders now allege that Dr. Tanga is once again meddling in the youth elections. According to them, he has been pressuring NRM district chairpersons and registrars to rally delegates behind his son.
“We are aware of meetings where Dr. Tanga has instructed registrars to mobilize district youth leaders to vote for his son. This is not only contempt of the tribunal ruling but also ruins the credibility of our party,” one youth delegate who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal told DailyExpress.
Ms Kiconco, who successfully challenged Collins’ earlier victory, says the alleged manoeuvres by Tanga confirm the fears they raised in their petition. “We warned that Dr. Tanga was using his office to benefit his son. The tribunal agreed with us. If he is now returning to intimidate registrars, then we call upon the National Chairman, President Museveni, to personally intervene,” she said.
Some youth leaders have already drafted a letter they intend to present to the President, urging him to act. “The integrity of our internal democracy is at stake. If Dr. Tanga continues to abuse his office, young people will lose trust in the party processes,” another delegate remarked.
Efforts by DailyExpress to reach Dr. Tanga Odoi and his son Collins for a comment on the allegations were unsuccessful by press time, and yet the NRM Electoral Commission, which Dr Tanga heads, has also not announced a new date for the youth league rerun, leaving the process in limbo.
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