Mbale City, Uganda, The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson for Mbale City, Eng. John Wekesa Wambogo, has issued a stern warning to supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and other opposition parties against attempting to disrupt the NRM party primary elections scheduled for tomorrow.
Speaking ahead of the polls, Eng. Wambogo accused opposition elements of habitually infiltrating NRM elections to cause confusion. He alleged that opposition supporters often blend in with NRM voters to manipulate the outcomes by favoring weaker candidates who do not represent the true will of the NRM party.
"This has been a habit for most opposition elements who come to mix up with NRM voters and end up confusing our elections. They try to push for weak candidates who are not the choice of the NRM people, Wambogo stated.
He warned that anyone attempting to interfere with the process would face severe consequences. "I am requesting them not to come near our polling stations because if they try, the heavy arm of the government will take its course," he declared.
Eng. Wambogo emphasized that only registered NRM members (those in the "yellow book") will be allowed to vote in the primaries. The voting method will involve lining up behind preferred candidates, a system aimed at ensuring transparency.
To further streamline the process, voters are encouraged to carry their national identity cards for easy verification. "Only those in the NRM register will vote, and if possible, one should carry their national ID for quick identification," he said.
According to Wambogo, Mbale City has approximately 158,000 registered NRM voters, and all necessary election materials have been dispatched to polling stations across the city. He urged party supporters to arrive early, preferably by 6:00 AM, to ensure a smooth and orderly exercise.
"All materials needed for a successful election have been delivered. We call upon all NRM supporters to be at their respective polling stations in their villages on time," he said.
Eng. Wambogo stressed the importance of the elections, describing them as the foundation of the NRM’s party structure—from the grassroots village chairperson level up to the national chairperson, who is also the President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni**.
"These elections are very important because they are the foundation of the NRM’s party organs across the country. They must be taken seriously as they mean a lot for the future of our party,"* he emphasized.
With tensions high ahead of the polls, security is expected to be tight to prevent any disruptions. The NRM leadership has made it clear that only legitimate party members will participate, and any attempts to interfere will be met with strict enforcement.
As Mbale City prepares for the primaries, all eyes will be on whether the exercise proceeds smoothly or faces challenges from opposition elements as warned by Eng. Wambogo.
