With the NRM delegates’ conference fast approaching, top party leaders have issued stern warnings to aspirants for Central Executive Committee (CEC) and special organ positions, amid growing whispers of vote-buying, favoritism, and internal rivalries.
In a tense harmonization meeting at the NRM Electoral Commission offices on Kyadondo Road, Kampala on Tuesday, First National Vice Chairman Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo delivered a blunt message to contestants: shape up or risk political disgrace.
“Without discipline, we wouldn’t be here,” Kigongo said sharply, his tone leaving no room for doubt. He accused some candidates of plotting to buy their way to victory, warning delegates not to sell their loyalty.
“Don’t become so cheap. There is a threat of you being bought. Really, how can somebody buy you as if you are groundnuts?” he fired, in a statement widely seen as a swipe at wealthy aspirants allegedly bankrolling campaigns behind the scenes.
The warnings came as party insiders trade accusations of favoritism within the top leadership, a claim NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong dismissed as “baseless.”
“Nobody is being favored, nobody will be favored,” Todwong insisted. “Campaigns will be open, voting will be through lining up, and results declared in the open.” He added that agents for each candidate will monitor polling stations to guard against irregularities.
The upcoming conference, Todwong revealed, will open with the CEC vetting process, a stage many believe could make or break political careers, given the influence of the committee on who qualifies for the ballot.
Deputy Secretary General Rt. Hon. Rose Namayanja, head of the organizing committee, sought to calm nerves, promising a flawless event.
“There is no room for errors. We have the time, resources, and systems in place for a hustle-free conference,” she said.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi echoed her assurances but also made a pointed remark: “All candidates will be treated fairly. Nobody will be favored.”
Yet, despite these reassurances, the air around Kololo ahead of the vote remains charged, with undercurrents of suspicion, fierce rivalries, and the unspoken reality that in NRM politics, every handshake, promise, and whispered deal could tip the balance.
