The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is facing fresh questions over its internal electoral integrity following chaotic scenes and allegations of fraud during the party’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) primaries in Kampala and Rubaga Divisions.
The Senior Presidential Advisor and Head of the Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has sounded the alarm over irregularities, urging President Museveni to step in and restore credibility to the process.
Thursday’s polls were part of the NRM’s internal elections to select flag bearers for youth and elderly positions ahead of the 2025 SIGs general elections.
The exercise was marked by disputes, heavy security deployment, and accusations of electoral mismanagement.
At Nakasero Primary School in Kampala Central, police and military officers maintained tight security as voters—many drawn from nearby ghettos—demanded transparency from polling officials.
Despite tense standoffs, voting eventually proceeded, and Chebet Gloria clinched the Female Youth Councillor flag with 75 votes.
Her opponent, Ninsima Christine, reportedly abandoned the queue midway when it became evident that the crowd visibly lined up behind the eventual winner.
In another contest, Luswata Kayigo Ismail secured the NRM flag for the directly elected Councillor slot with 51 votes against Christopher Baligeya’s 9.
Hajjat Namyalo acknowledged the energy and turnout among the youth but warned that disputes risk fracturing party unity.
“What we witnessed today shows that NRM is alive at the grassroots. Disagreements will arise, but we must resolve them through the right party channels and avoid acts that undermine unity,” she said.
In Rubaga Division, events took a more chaotic turn at Lubiri SS polling station, where no winners were declared following allegations of fraud and irregularities in vote handling.
Supporters accused the Registrar for Rubaga, one Kato, of interchanging the final tally results for Josephine Nanteza, who scored 31 votes, in favour of Sharon Babirye, who had 26 votes.
They alleged Babirye was an ally of the opposition, a claim that sparked mass protests against the conduct of election officials.
Backers of the aggrieved Nanteza insisted they had the majority during the lining-up vote and complained that many eligible voters had yet to arrive before the official 1 pm close.
They petitioned Hajjat Namyalo to intervene to uphold fairness and strengthen internal party democracy.
The ONC Boss advised the disgruntled parties to lodge formal complaints with the NRM district leadership but also signalled that the scale of grievances demanded high-level attention.
“If there are genuine grievances, the party has structures to handle them. However, the magnitude of what I have witnessed today calls for the Chairman’s [President Museveni’s] personal attention to ensure fairness and protect our party’s image,” she said.
Some voters praised the enthusiasm displayed in the elections but lamented delays and disorganisation.
“The process was generally peaceful in my area, but the delays made many restless,” said Musa Ssenyonjo, a Kampala Central voter.
“In Rubaga, it felt disorganised. We need better preparation next time,” remarked Sarah Namakula, a local youth leader in Lungujja.
The controversies in Kampala and Rubaga have put the NRM’s internal electoral systems under renewed scrutiny, especially in politically competitive urban areas where the opposition is eager to capitalise on any signs of division within the ruling party.
