Grassroots supporters of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have issued an urgent call to key party leaders and security officials, demanding swift action to safeguard the integrity and peaceful conduct of the upcoming NRM primaries.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Richard Todwongo, the NRM Secretary General and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba are being called upon to address widespread concerns of bias, intimidation, and potential violence within the party’s electoral processes.
Supporters from across the country have raised alarms that certain District Police Commanders (DPCs) and NRM District Registrars may be compromising the fairness of the primaries by collaborating with specific politicians.
Districts such as Kayunga, Ssembabule, and Kamuli have been singled out as areas of particular concern, with allegations that local law enforcement and party officials are undermining the electoral process by aligning with powerful local figures.
These developments have triggered memories of the violent aftermath of the 2020 NRM primaries and sparked renewed fears of chaos.
During the recent PDM Presidential Tour in Mubende, NRM cadres appealed to Dr. Odoi to reshuffle district registrars who have been petitioned or reported for misconduct. They also urged a thorough investigation into other registrars across the country to restore public confidence in the party’s internal elections.
While grassroots supporters maintain trust in the national leadership of the NRM Electoral Commission, many have lost faith in district-level registrars, citing widespread partiality.
Supporters have further called for the immediate transfer of DPCs accused of partisan conduct, and for the replacement of registrars allegedly acting on behalf of specific politicians. They emphasized that the Uganda Police Force must uphold neutrality and focus on maintaining peace during the primaries.
The outcry has been echoed by key party mobilizers. Mr. Kidu Makubuya, a prominent NRM cadre from Kayunga, accused the local registrar of working for NRM District Chairperson Moses Karangwa, whose daughter is an aspiring candidate. Makubuya called for the immediate transfer of the registrar and reshuffling of the DPCs in affected areas.
Joab Muteesa, a national NRM mobilizer, warned that unless these issues are urgently addressed, the primaries could be marred by violence and intimidation. “The level of fear in Kayunga is unacceptable. People are being threatened with arrest. This is not in line with President Museveni’s vision of peace and inclusivity,” he said.
Proposals to Ensure Credibility in NRM Primaries
To address these issues and prevent a repeat of past electoral violence, concerned NRM grassroots members have presented ten key proposals for the attention of the NRM Electoral Commission, the party Secretariat, and the Central Executive Committee (CEC):
- Restructure District Registrars: Replace district registrars accused of bias, particularly in hotspot areas. Avoid appointing individuals influenced by district chairpersons or aligned politicians.
- Tame Overreaching District Chairpersons: Hold accountable those chairpersons who treat NRM structures as personal property and intimidate rival members. The party should be inclusive, not a family affair.
- Reshuffle Police Leadership: Work with police authorities to transfer DPCs and district criminal investigations heads that have become politicized and compromised.
- Protect Administrative Secretaries: Reinstate unfairly dismissed administrative secretaries and ensure new appointments are made without interference from district political actors.
- Work with the National Electoral Commission: Appoint new, impartial District Returning Officers and assistants, especially in districts where officers are seen as political activists.
- Deploy Central Teams to Hotspots: In districts deemed volatile, deploy NRM EC and Secretariat teams from Kampala to oversee the primaries directly and ensure impartiality.
- Review Voting Methods: Consider whether to use the yellow book or allow open village voting to enhance participation, transparency, and reduce voter bribery and coercion.
- Empower the Legal Department: Allocate more resources to the NRM legal team to effectively monitor and address legal issues during primaries and build public trust.
- Engage District Elders: Involve respected elders in monitoring and supervising the primaries without involving district chairpersons to promote neutrality.
- Standardize District Chairperson Campaigns: Ensure campaigns for NRM district chairpersons are held in gazetted venues through joint rallies, similar to parliamentary primaries.
These proposals, drafted by a team of ten NRM cadres who have traversed the country, are seen as crucial to safeguarding the future of the party and preventing the rise of independent candidates and post-primary violence.
A Call to President Museveni
In conclusion, the concerned NRM supporters are appealing directly to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene and guide the reorganization of party structures at the district level. They reaffirm their loyalty and commitment to the party’s ideals but stress that meaningful reforms are needed now more than ever.
