Logistical challenges, irregularities mar NRM primaries nationwide

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries, a crucial step toward selecting flagbearers for the 2026 general elections, kicked off across the country with a mix of enthusiasm, logistical challenges, and allegations of electoral malpractice.

Reports from across the country painted a picture of a process fraught with low voter turnout, absent polling agents, disputes over voter registers, and accusations of interference, including unsubstantiated claims of sabotage by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

Early Voting Defies Guidelines 

In Nansana Municipality, voter turnout was initially sluggish, with only a handful of voters present by 9:00 AM despite presiding officers being on station. By 11:00 AM, polling stations were swarmed by groups of supporters demanding that voting begin, leading to an early start and conclusion by 11:30 AM, well ahead of the NRM’s stipulated 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM voting window.

Winners were declared, and voters dispersed swiftly. Kyagulanyi Ali, one of eight candidates vying for the Nansana Municipality MP flagbearer position, alleged voter bribery but failed to provide evidence. Kakooza Joseph, the registrar for Kazo Muganzilwaza One, and Nankya Dorothy, chairperson of the Nansana Municipality Women’s League, both insisted the process was incident-free.

Nakawa West: Tensions and NUP Allegations 

Nakawa West voters have accused the opposition members, especially the National Unity Platform members, of influence peddling and interference in the ongoing elections for the ruling NRM primaries.  Cyprus John Murisike, a supporter of Nantongo Margaret Zziwa, the former Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly-EALA, says the people in charge of Local Defence, led by a one Rosiko Ben at Kalinabiri One polling station in Kigowa, are  NUP members and hold cards for the party.

He alleges that they were reportedly brought by another candidate, Herbert Anderson Burora, to cause confusion and create havoc and that they had been bribing voters since morning. This was after Murisike was seen filming while inside the polling station and advised to stop.  Unhappy with this, Musirike said he had been denied the right to vote, and instead, he decided to get out, saying that the election is not going to be fair.

But Burora supporters, led by Brian Komakech, have denied these claims, saying that Musirike is known for being chaotic whenever there is a big gathering in the area. They accuse him of being short-tempered. These are all youth and appearing physically intoxicated by substances like Alcohol are blaming each other for the chaos at the station.

Some of the youth had also thought that voting for Local Government leaders was today. Some were frustrated after being told that elections are not for today but for next week.

Also, the youth in Nakawa West constituency were seen running from village to village and voting at more than one polling station. For instance, some youth came from Kigowa on Boda Boda, parked them and participated in voting again at Kalinabiri stations. Immediately, they left to look for another station that is yet been voted.

Musirike also demanded to vote by force, yet he was not a registered voter in the area.  He had earlier threatened that the election at Kalinabiri, one polling station, wouldn’t take place because he had been barred from filming activities that were taking place. He also accused the opposition  NUP of interfering in NRM primaries.

He was, however, convinced by someone dressed in casual water and taken somewhere before the elections could resume. Before this, the Military and police came in to reinforce security. About ten officers, led by ASP Musinguz, arrived with armed personnel who included UPDF Soldiers.

He was, however, convinced and taken somewhere before the elections could resume. Before this, the Military and police came in to reinforce security. About ten officers, led by ASP Musinguzi, arrived with armed personnel who included UPDF Soldiers. Those who were present earlier didn’t have guns.

Missing Agents in Moroto, Rubaga:

In Moroto’s Lotisan Sub-County, the absence of candidate agents at rural polling stations severely impacted the process. Presiding officer Joseph Lochoro reported that aspirants without agents or posters received zero votes, with stones and empty chairs used to represent absent candidates. Low voter turnout was attributed to residents being occupied in gardens or kraals, while repeated names in the voter register further complicated the process.

In Rubaga North, the absence of candidate agents at polling stations like Mengo Town Zone led to skewed outcomes. For the Woman MP race, only Lukanga Amina’s agent was present in most of the villages visited by our reporter, thus securing all votes. For directly elected MPs, only Katongole Singh and Timothy Ndiwalana had agents and shared the votes, leaving the unrepresented with zeros.

In Kampala, women’s MP contests drew spirited battles. At Kyebando Central, Hanifah Kaladi beat Faridah Nambi 260–38, while at Kawempe Mbogo, Nambi returned the favour with a dominant 275–21 win over Kaladi. Disputes over which register to use sparked brief scuffles at Kyebando, but voting eventually continued under police watch.  Even in historically volatile areas like Corner Zone in Kawempe North, heavy police deployment kept incidents to a minimum.

Allegations of Voter Ferrying and Violence

Jinja South West Constituency, with candidates Moses Balyeku, Erick Sakwa, Daniel Kanu, and David Talenga, saw significant irregularities. Voting proceeded without adhering to the voter register, as mandated by Dr. Tanga Odoi. Instead, voters were observed hopping between stations like Nalufenya A, Nalufenya B, Naranbhai Road, Kakindu, Magwa Primary School, PMM Girls, and Rippon Gardens, lining up for their preferred candidates.

Sakwa and Talenga accused Balyeku of ferrying non-residents from Buikwe and Iganga to inflate his votes, bypassing the required public baraza for voter verification. Talenga reported voter bribery, with rowdy youths allegedly paid UGX 10,000 per station, and physical assaults on supporters of opposing candidates.

John Mark, from Kanu’s team, claimed polling officials and security personnel ignored these malpractices, citing an incident where a presiding officer at Rippon Village was escorted away by youths to a car parked at Jinja Central Police Station.

Balyeku dismissed the allegations, attributing his support to his developmental contributions. Polling official Brian Mukisa of Nalufenya B insisted all voters were residents, while Deputy RCC Martin Kasonzi rated the process 65–70% free and fair, denying any involvement in irregularities.

Rubanda East: Voter Register Disputes Halt Voting 

Complaints of names of voters missing in the register marred several polling stations in Rubanda East constituency, Rubanda district.   At Rwere primary school polling station in Bubaare town council, by 12:30 PM, voting had not started as a section of voters led by Barnet Rukundo and Martin Hawoyeha protested and demanded answers to why their names were missing from the registers. They argue that there is no way their names can be missed from the register, yet they recently participated in the party’s structure elections.

They allege that the polling officials have altered the register to favour Minister Henry Musasizi since many of those missing are for his opponen,t Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema. The same story was observed at the nearby Rusikizi polling station, according to Osbert Atwongeirwe, area NRM  village Chairman and Ann Matsiko.

Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema, Musasizi’s main competitor, says many of his supporters are missing from the register, yet they had previously registered.  Jogo says he has alerted the party’s electoral commission chairman, Dr.Tang Odoi, but is yet to receive a response.  Jogo calls for calm among his supporters as they wait for a response from authorities.

At Nabisojjo village in Nakaseke district, the primaries turned chaotic after the area LC 1 Chairperson, Andrew Luzige, confiscated the register, which the polling officials were using to verify eligible voters. The Chairperson claimed the voters in the register were not residents.

At Mijuma village in Wakyato sub-county, the elections also turned chaotic after unknown youths turned up to vote, but other voters protested, insisting they were not known and had been hired to rig the polls.

Kabuye Kyofa, the state minister for Kampala Metropolitan affairs, who is also a candidate for Nakaseke Central constituency, said that at the two villages, his agents called in police to restore peace before elections resumed.   At Maranatha polling station, the elections were also delayed after Sophie Kaikara, another candidate in Nakaseke Central MP, also protested missing names on the register.

From Luwero district, the elections at Lukomera primary polling station also turned chaotic after a section of voters protested against the eligibility of some underage students from Wobulenzi Academy who turned up to vote

The polling officials, led by Winnie Nansukusa, however, insisted that since they are registered, they were eligible to vote.

The Luwero Resident District Commissioner, Richard Bwabye, rushed to the polling station and restored calm before elections proceeded.

A section of voters loyal to Katikamu North MP candidate Ronald Ndawula said they found their names missing in the register and were unable to vote

From Makulubita Sub-county in Luwero district, by 1pm, voters were still yet to start elections because Polling officials were nowhere to be seen.