NRM Electoral Commission Reschedules Polls in 8 Constituencies, Addresses Internal Disputes
NRM Electoral Commission extends elections by eight days in September to reorganize for constituencies unable to participate in recent primaries.
Kampala, Uganda – The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has announced an eight-day extension, starting this September, to reorganize elections in various constituencies that were unable to participate in the recent party primaries due to logistical and administrative challenges.
The Commission acknowledged that while the exercise faced minor complaints compared to the scale of participation, certain victories were contested, leading to the need for reevaluation in affected areas.
Over the weekend, the final phase of electing various NRM leaders concluded with the selection of Hajj Hassan Basajjabala as the head of the Entrepreneurs League. He was officially declared winner and joined other elected leaders at Kololo Independence Grounds.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, the Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, noted that although some victories were altered, the changes did not reflect any incompetence within the Commission.
Ambassador James Kinobe, a member of the Commission, confirmed that additional internal elections will proceed as planned.
Winners in uncontested positions have been directed to report to the party’s secretariat to receive official certification documents.
The party also warned against individuals attempting to disrupt the electoral process through illegal means, emphasizing that such actions would not be tolerated.
In a related development, a group of youth from Eastern Uganda, led by Namuga Aisha, expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the youth elections. Namuga, who is vying for the NRM flag to represent Eastern Uganda’s youth in Parliament, criticized the electoral process, citing irregularities.
“While the party chairman mediated disputes among senior leaders in the Entrepreneurs League and ensured the election of Mr. Basajjabala, we demand the same attention for youth elections. We urge the party to organize free and fair elections where youth can choose their preferred representative.”
The NRM leadership has yet to respond to the youth’s concerns, but the Electoral Commission reaffirmed its commitment to upholding fairness and transparency in all pending elections.
