Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has announced consideration to scrap existing party registers in Mukono Municipality and conduct a fresh recruitment exercise.
The decision follows concerns that opposition members were secretly added to the register to manipulate internal elections.
NRM’s Ambassador James Kinobe confirmed the move during a party restructuring meeting at Ntawo playground in Mukono Central Division over the weekend.
He claimed an unnamed politician, who plans to run for the party’s parliamentary ticket in Mukono Municipality, facilitated the recruitment of opposition supporters to strengthen their chances in the primaries.
“This only results in a weaker candidate who cannot win in the general elections,” Kinobe warned, adding that they are going to remove some of these registers and introduce alternative voting methods in select villages to ensure fairness. Kinobe noted while representing the secretariat at Mukono.
Mukono Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Fatumah Ndisaba Nabitaka expressed disappointment, saying some party members had failed to learn from past elections.
“It is regrettable that certain individuals are using manipulative tricks. How can you recruit opposition members into the NRM register just to win primaries? They will abandon you in the general elections,” she said.
The controversy comes after the NRM recently updated its registers across the country.
Mike Ssegawa, an NRM ticket contender for the Mukono Municipality seat, urged party members to work together rather than engage in internal conflicts.
“If we want to regain momentum in Greater Mukono, we should campaign on the same platform and be ready to support whoever wins the primaries,” said Ssegawa, who is also the Deputy RDC of Kasanda District.
Daisy Ssonko Nabatanzi, another aspirant, emphasized her goal of reclaiming the constituency from the opposition and handing it over to President Museveni.
Nabatanzi previously contested for Mukono Municipality mayor but lost to Erisa Mukasa Nkoyoyo of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
NRM officials in Mukono have been holding restructuring meetings across sub-counties, but the process has been overshadowed by infighting.
In Nagojje and Mukono Central Division, youthful NRM members accused the district leadership of mismanaging the party, alleging that some officials even protected opposition votes in the last elections.
They have demanded that an independent official oversee the remaining restructuring meetings to restore credibility.
In response, district party chairperson Hajji Twahir Ssebaggala dismissed the accusations, calling them an attempt by rivals to discredit him ahead of the next primaries.
Despite the internal tensions, Ambassador Kinobe assured party members that the secretariat had received funding for the restructuring process and would ensure the party remains strong in Mukono.
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