The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has confirmed that its parliamentary primary elections will take place this Thursday, July 17, 2025, across the country to select flag bearers for the 2026 general elections.
Addressing a press conference in Kampala on Tuesday, Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, affirmed that the party is set to conduct the vote in all 72,000 villages nationwide despite minor logistical and administrative challenges.
Dr. Odoi said the election will begin with District Woman MP races, followed by the selection of Constituency MP flag bearers. In most districts, the process will begin at 10:00 AM with a roll call. Voting by lining up behind candidates will commence at noon and must conclude by 2:00 PM.
The declaration of results will follow before 4:00 PM. However, in the Karamoja region, voting will begin earlier—at 9:00 AM—due to weather and pastoral lifestyle factors. “Karamoja is experiencing unique rainfall patterns. It starts raining at 11:00 AM, and by that time, most voters have moved with their cattle—even into Kenya,” he explained. Dr. Odoi emphasized that only new voter registers will be used, noting that 98% are complete. He assured that any gaps would be resolved on the ground.
Strict guidelines have been issued against electoral malpractice, including ferrying of voters and voter bribery. “If we find any irregularity, the election will be cancelled and repeated. Candidates causing confusion will be disqualified,” he warned. On security, he sounded warnings to individuals in districts like Mubende, Sembabule, Tororo County, and Rwampara. “Anyone who disrupts the process will face police action. No one is above the law,” he stated.
Dr. Odoi reiterated that voting will be by lining up, and megaphones will be used in large villages to call voters to the polling areas. “By 11:00 AM, roll call should be done. At noon, lining up begins—no excuses,” he said. He also confirmed that the NRM Electoral Commission has reshuffled registrars in 67 districts and suspended 14 sub-county registrars due to incompetence. New officials have been appointed in areas like Rukiga, Bugiri, Jinja City, and Tororo County.
To promote transparency, Dr. Odoi said results will be declared only at the district level. Over 800,000 Declaration of Results (DRA) forms have been printed, with every candidate required to have two agents to collect signed copies of results after counting. While acknowledging compressed training time, Dr. Odoi assured the media that registrars and polling officials would be ready in time. “We’ve held elections before without registers and still elected 336 flag bearers.
This time we’re 98% ready. The election will proceed,” he stated. He concluded with a call for calm and cooperation among candidates and party members. “Let the Commission do its work. Whether big or small, we all start at zero,” he said. Joint campaigns officially end today, July 15.
The next round of NRM primaries—for LC5 Chairpersons, Municipal and City Mayors—is scheduled for Sunday, July 20. Meanwhile, trucks were on Tuesday seen loading voting materials from the NRM Electoral Commission offices for distribution across the country.
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