The Vice President, Rtd. Maj. Jessica Alupo taking part in the NRM parliamentary primaries which she convincingly won.

Post NRM Primaries: Ruling Party Destined to Lose Key support to Opposition, Independent Sides

4 minutes, 42 seconds Read

Following the above and a host of other unmentioned fraudulent and unfair acts, angered NRM big wigs who feel they were rigged out of victory, are swearing to drop their party allegiance and either join opposition parties or go independent in the 2026 general elections.

President Museveni Condemns Loss of Lives Due to Violence in NRM Primaries

The recently concluded primary elections for NRM parliamentary flag bearers will, unquestionably, remain in history books as the most violent and irregular elections this country has ever held.

As we speak now, many families are recuperating from trauma caused by death of loved ones who were gunned down, while others are still nursing bodily wounds sustained during pre-election and election fracas countrywide.

But all said and done, the bare and undeniable fact remains that come 2026, the ruling NRM party will, like never before in history, be counting unprecedented losses by way of defections by members, thanks to the irregularities said to have been orchestrated by party registrars, party chairmen and security bodies.

A photo of Gen. Kahinda Otafiire taking rounds on social media lining up during the NRM party primaries with school children. The party however defended them saying they are regitered NRM members.

The elections were largely characterized by swapping results to favour specific candidates who lost, violence and intimidation, inflation of numbers of voters  compared to the ones in registers, involving underage children as voters, voter bribery, plus of course, deaths in some districts during campaigns.

Following the above and a host of other unmentioned fraudulent and unfair acts, angered NRM big wigs who feel they were rigged out of victory, are swearing to drop their party allegiance and either join opposition parties or go independent in the 2026 general elections.

In no unclear terms, State Minister for Housing Persis Namuganza has openly implored President Museveni to prevail on the party electoral commission chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi and the Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among who she claims were overtly giving orders intended to frustrate her victory and for other big wigs Busoga sub-region.

“They orchestrated the fraudulent process and although I am sure I did beat my opponent Emmanuel Maganda, he was declared winner, thanks to their evil interaction, and under the circumstances, the national chairman must intervene or else I am considering defaulting and standing as an independent candidate in the 2026 elections”, Namuganza authoritatively and decisively asserted.

Namuganza Blames Her Loss of NRM Party Election to Tanga Odoi, Speaker Among

Without mincing words, Namuganza said these actions are being fueled by what she called the so-called ‘Team Mulamu’ (Among’s sympathizers) with the intention of undermining the Busoga strongholds.

“Speaker Among and Tanga Odoi were behind all the confusion as they used to give orders to registrars and security. Some of us are not going to meet Tanga because we know the voters are our bosses,” she declared.

Addressing her supporters on Friday at Namutumba Town Council headquarters, the minister announced her decision to desert the party. As a gesture of backing her, her supporters took to the streets and blocked traffic movement, in addition to burning yellow T-shirts in protest.

In Sembabule district’s Lwemiyaga county, the writings are on the wall. The battle between vocal MP Theodore Ssekikubo and retired senior army officer, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande, which culminated in death of a person and untold casualties right from campaign level, ended with declaration of Rwashande as winner, which Ssekikubo says was a result of injustice carried out by electoral officers.

Ssekikubo said thereafter, he cannot simply sit behind and fold arms as his voters are denied their constitutional right and so, he added, he will do all it takes to address the anomaly by standing in 2026, no matter how.

Olwa Peace Kusasira ne Nakavubu Terunnaggwa, Alangiridde Okuddamu Okwambalagana Naye mu ka Bonna

In Mukono district, Margaret Nakavubu Bakubi was declared winner after polling more votes than former Woman MP Peace Kusasira Mubiru Kanyesigye, to the humiliation of the latter who claims she was rigged out of victory through omission of votes from three polling centres in Goma Division, her stronghold as she claims.

Kusasira says the omission was a deliberate calculation to eject her and she insists she cannot be party to denying her voters their wish. “In that respect, I am considering standing as an independent candidate in the 2026 elections,” she said.

Asked whether she does not fear annoying the party chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who said NRM losers should not stand as independents, the angry and determined Kusasira answered, “Nobody enrolled me in the NRM and I am not breaking any law in opting out of the party; I am not taking anything with me.”

Continuing to spit fire, Kusasira expressed the view that perpetrators of electoral fraud and unfairness are the law breakers who should be disciplined now and for future elections, not people seeking fairness for the poor voters.

She cited issues like unchecked land grabbing over which she says she has a covenant with voters to fight tooth and nail to see it ends.

Joy, Tears at the Final Count of the NRM Parliamentary In-House elections

Relatedly, the NRM Registrar for Namutumba district Richard Mwanja who had earlier announced Paul Akamba with 34,269 votes as winner against Joel Waiswa Azaalwa who collected 35,249 votes, reversed the announcement, saying it was a mistake, saying, “This is final, no one shall overturn this declaration which I have made this Saturday at 9.38am.”

But reversal and apologies notwithstanding, voters have only accused Mwanja and NRM officials of gross electoral malpractices. Mwanja was blamed for ‘rigging on orders of above’ and frustrating candidates of the people’s choice.

Not done, Namuganza warned that should President Museveni fail to intervene to nullify the fraudulent declarations, her supporters will boycott the forthcoming LC 5 primaries.

 

Let others know by sharing

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected !!