KAMPALA, UGANDA – With just over a week left until the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections, several contenders have accused their rivals of “hiding” and “smuggling” delegates to gain an unfair advantage.
A group of over five candidates, including Philip Kakuru and King Augustus Ceasor Mulenga, have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the NRM chairman, alleging that their competitors have engaged in undemocratic practices. The petition, dated Aug. 15, claims some delegates have been transported out of the country to neighboring Kenya and Tanzania to prevent other aspirants from campaigning to them.
“We have a list and photographs of individuals being transported out of Uganda aboard buses,” the candidates wrote in the letter.
Mulenga said his recent 15-day tour of the eastern and northern regions revealed a pattern of obstruction. “As I moved from the east to Acholi subregion, I found out that the delegates in northern Uganda and West Nile had been taken to Kenya and Tanzania. This is unpatriotic.”
In response to the claims, NRM’s director of information, Emmanuel Dombo, acknowledged that hiding delegates is a serious breach of party regulations. However, he stated that he had not yet received a formal complaint. Richard Todwong, the NRM secretary-general, recently issued a warning to all CEC candidates, emphasizing that such actions would result in serious disciplinary measures.
Youth Candidate’s Age Questioned
In a separate development, several candidates vying for NRM youth parliamentary positions have petitioned the party leadership, alleging that some contenders are above the mandatory age limit.
According to the National Youth Policy, a youth is defined as a person aged 18 to 30. The petition claims that Fiona Nakku, a contender for the national female youth MP position, is ineligible to run because she will turn 31 in December. Attempts to get a comment from Nakku were not successful.
The NRM is set to elect party flag-bearers for five youth affirmative parliamentary positions on Monday, Aug. 25.
Key Leaders Absent from Election Meeting
In a related matter, a high-level meeting for all CEC candidates last week was reportedly snubbed by many prominent party leaders. The mandatory session, which was held at the NRM secretariat to brief candidates on election procedures, saw notable absences.
Among those not in attendance were Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, who are competing for the second national vice-chairperson (female) position. Others who missed the meeting included Capt. Mike Mukula, Godfrey Ssuubi Kiwanda, Lydia Wanyoto, and Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
Baryomunsi and Mukula both said they missed the meeting because of pre-scheduled consultations. Wanyoto said she was out of town and that the meeting was announced on short notice.
Todwong confirmed that many senior members did not attend but stressed that no one is above party rules. “We have to follow our constitution to show that we are disciplined cadres,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NRM elections tribunal has nullified Sarah Namulondo’s victory as the party’s flag-bearer for the Buyende District Woman MP seat due to allegations of widespread irregularities. The tribunal has ordered fresh elections to be held within 21 days.
