Chaos and Suspension Mar NRM Primaries in Mukono District

Mukono, Uganda – The National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries in Mukono District have been marred by irregularities, leading to the suspension of voting in several areas, including the Maternity Ward in Ntawo Ward. The electoral process, which was supposed to take place this weekend, has been halted due to disputes over voter register anomalies.  

Voters in Mulago Village expressed outrage after discovering that their names were missing from the register, while unfamiliar names appeared instead. The situation worsened when it was revealed that Lubowa Ramazan, the frontrunner for the NRM chairperson seat in Mukono Central Division, was also not listed.  

Frustrated residents accused the NRM electoral commission of foul play, leading to protests and demands for an investigation. The chaos forced party officials to suspend the elections for the third time, citing the need for a proper verification process.  

Benon Sekannyo, the NRM electoral head in Mukono, urged supporters to remain patient, emphasising that the party’s laws must be followed. Meanwhile, Samuel Eyenga, the electoral officer for Greater Mukono, admitted to discrepancies in the register and announced a fresh verification exercise.  

However, his decision did little to ease tensions. Some NRM members accused the electoral committee of deliberate sabotage, alleging that certain leaders were manipulating the process to favor their preferred candidates.  

Lubowa Ramazan, one of the affected aspirants, condemned the irregularities, warning that if the party leadership imposes an unpopular candidate, supporters may boycott future elections. His statement reflects growing frustration among grassroots NRM members who feel sidelined in the candidate selection process.  

Some NRM leaders in Mukono have demanded the dissolution of the current electoral committee, accusing it of incompetence and bias. They argue that repeated suspensions of the primaries undermine the party’s credibility and could weaken its support base ahead of the general elections.  

As tensions escalate, the NRM leadership faces mounting pressure to clean up the voter register, ensure fairness, and restore confidence in its internal elections.