Chaos erupts as NRM LC1 primaries heat up in Jinja, neighbouring districts
He further called on voters in the affected villages to turn up early for the postponed elections.
Jinja: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) LC1 primary elections turned chaotic across parts of Jinja City, Jinja District, and neighboring areas, with incidents of violence, voter irregularities, and protests marring the electoral process.
In Jinja City, fierce competition at various polling stations reflected growing dissatisfaction with how the primaries were conducted.
At Kakindu Polling Station, Dafa Harman emerged victorious over Bogere Muhammad in a tightly contested race.
Meanwhile, at Ripon Garden Polling Station, Tuuyo David was declared winner of the NRM mainstream chairperson position, despite his rival, Baker Zivuga Mwodha, collecting 12 votes.
In the LC1 chairperson race, Ntagga Simon narrowly beat Kisira Paul with 42 to 38 votes. Kisira later demanded a recount, accusing officials of allowing at least 10 non-residents to vote, raising concerns about voter list manipulation.
At Main Street Village, Ahmed Binasali, the newly elected chairperson, raised issues about the lack of continuity in local leadership.
He alleged that the former chairperson had disbanded the entire committee and that accessing the official village stamp had been difficult because the former leader now resides in Njeru Municipality. Binasali also condemned disruptive youth behavior during the election.
Tensions escalated at Kakira Polling Station when a fight broke out, allegedly instigated by Shaban Okumu, a candidate for the NRM mobilizer position, and his father, Jomo Ikata.
During the altercation, Charles Kabule Sande sustained serious injuries to his genitals and was rushed to Jinja Hospital for treatment. Police were forced to intervene to restore order.
In Wandago B, Magamaga Town Council in Mayuge District, youth halted voting, demanding an updated voter register. They accused NRM Chairperson Zirimenya Moses of tampering with the updated list, saying, “We can’t use the old register that has no people.”
A similar issue occurred in Ngando Buyamba A Village, Buyende District, where voters found their names missing from the NRM yellow book. Registered members claimed that the list included names of people from Kamuli District, not their own. Of the three chairperson candidates—Mugomba Robert, Pooya Yairo, and Mayamba Patrick—only Mayamba’s name appeared, leading to his unopposed declaration, sparking anger and frustration.
The controversies in Jinja, Mayuge, and Buyende have cast a shadow over the NRM’s internal election credibility. From missing names and non-resident voters to violent altercations, local leaders and observers are urging the party to tighten electoral processes and address grievances to avoid long-term political fallout.
While Masindi District largely experienced a peaceful and orderly exercise during the NRM LC1 primaries, voting was postponed in 11 villages due to administrative setbacks.
According to Moses Ogwang, the NRM District Registrar, the elections were successfully conducted in 406 out of 417 villages. However, in 11 villages, some registered party members were missing from the village registers, prompting the electoral team to defer voting.
“We had to postpone elections in those villages because many party members could not find their names in the registers. The affected areas will vote tomorrow, Wednesday, May 7, 2025,” Ogwang said in an interview on Tuesday evening.
Ogwang praised the peaceful conduct of the process across the district but urged continued unity within the party as it heads toward the final elections.
“I appeal to all NRM members to remain united and avoid divisions. Let’s resolve any misunderstandings and focus on the bigger goal,” he emphasized.
He further called on voters in the affected villages to turn up early for the postponed elections.
“We expect voting to start by 8:00 AM sharp, and I encourage all party members to come out and participate,” he added.
Story filed by Kenneth Wamatoyi and Innocent Atuganyira
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