By Martin Ssekweyama
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) grassroots supporters have issued a pressing plea to key party leaders and security officials, urging them to take decisive action to ensure the integrity and peacefulness of the upcoming NRM primaries.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, Richard Todwongo, NRM Secretary General, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba are being called upon to address concerns of bias and potential violence within the party’s electoral process.
The NRM grassroots structures across the country are worried that the current District Police Commanders (DPCs) and NRM District Registrars may compromise the fairness and security of the primaries.
“Some DPCs and Registrars are working closely with specific politicians, particularly in districts like Kayunga, Ssembabule, and Kamuli, rather than maintaining law and order. This perceived bias could lead to violence and undermine the electoral process, much like the violence witnessed after the 2020 NRM primaries” explained an inspector.
NRM cadres from across the country, while in Mubende for the PDM Presidential tour, spoke to the media, urging Dr. Tanga Odoi to reshuffle NRM District Registrars who have been petitioned or reported.
They also requested that the NRM EC Boss investigate Registrars in other districts to restore confidence in the party’s electoral process.
“The grassroots supporters trust Dr. Tanga Odoi and his EC at the national level but have lost faith in some NRM District Registrars” an inspector added.
The NRM grassroots supporters are calling for immediate action to address these concerns.
Musa Mugambe, a resident of Kayunga district said there’s need to transfer DPCs who have allegedly compromised their neutrality by working for specific politicians.
“Additionally, they want NRM District Registrars who are working for politicians to be replaced to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The IGP should also emphasize the role of police in maintaining law and order, rather than taking sides in the primaries” an inspector said.
The NRM grassroots supporters believe that once these concerns are addressed, people will accept the outcome of the elections, and the party will be revitalized.
The call for action is not just about ensuring a smooth electoral process but also about restoring faith in the party’s leadership.
Kiddu Makubuya, a known NRM cadre and resident of Kayunga District, claimed that the NRM District Registrar of this district needs to be shuffled following allegations of working a big NRM member in the district whose daughter is an aspiring candidate.
He urges the NRM leadership to transfer the Registrar and the IGP to reshuffle DPCs.
Joab Muteesa, National NRM Mobilizer, warns that NRM primaries will be marred by violence if current DPCs are not reshuffled and biased NRM District Registrars maintained.
The level of intimidation in districts like Kayunga and Sembabule is too much that people are being threatened of being arrested.
“This fear is too much and our dear President doesn’t like this. President Museveni is a man of peace and he has respect for his people at all levels” he said.
The situation demands urgent attention from Dr.Tanga Odoi, Richard Todwongo, and IGP Abbas Byakagaba to ensure that the NRM primaries are conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. The future of the party and its leadership hangs in the balance, and decisive action is necessary to restore confidence and maintain stability within the party.
