On the first day of the campaign, NUP accused the National Resistance Movement Party of interfering with its candidate's campaign. The Candidate Simon Toolit Akecha held two rallies in Lakwaya Sub-county. But, he says, all the venues that were pre-booked for his rallies were occupied by locals dressed in NRM t-shirts and holding his rival's campaign posters.
Baker Kyabamde Njuki, the loser in the NRM primary elections for Kampala Central, says the party leaders have concentrated on the winners and neglected losers, who need counseling.
Results from last month’s general election indicate that the NRM performed poorly in the Presidential and Parliamentary polls in the central region. Many of the incumbent MPs including ministers were defeated by rivals from the opposition.
Yusuf Nsubuga, the NRM Chairperson for Mabuye parish in Bukulula sub-county says that the local NRM mobilization teams were also scattered by infighting and growing intrigue within the party circles and approached the general election with a sharply divided structure, part of which clandestinely worked with the opposition.
Out of the 14 positions of councilors voted for on Wednesday, the NRM managed to retain only two positions of direct councilor for Lwabenge sub county and the female representative for Lukaya Town council which were won by John Kalema and Irene Mwebe Nanyanzi respectively.
Sodo told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that his decision to withdraw from the race was reached after a series of meetings with President Museveni who asked him to step down for his opponent for purposes of building cohesion both within the party and their family.
Geoffrey Ssewanyana, the mobilization secretary Masaka-Kitengesa Boda boda stage in Masaka town accused the organizers of pocketing part of their mobilization allowances that was disbursed by the president.
Tumukunde says in the previous elections, the opposition had few candidates who could hardly deploy agents to man all polling stations, which left loopholes for rigging.
The political dispute arises from the party's Elections Tribunal which nullified the election of Hajji Idi Lubyayi Kisiki as the MP Bukomansimbi North constituency and declared the incumbent Ruth Katushabe as the NRM flag bearer.
Ismail Wagaba, independent candidate for the Mawogola North parliamentary seat, says the internal party disputes have charged the electorates in the area. He says the voters are less willing to give audience to candidates from other shades of opinion despite the fact that they are not part of the dispute.
Patrick Kabigumira, the Musubiiro village NRM elections presiding officer in Lwengo Sub County, who was badly beaten during the polls wants police to arrest and cause the prosecution of his attackers.
This was after the party authorities failing to break the stalemate on the official flagbearer pitting President Museveni's Godfrey Aine Kaguta and Foreign Minister Kutesa's daughter Shartsi Nayebare Musherure Kuteesa
He was declared the winner by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi on Sunday following the primary elections held on Sunday. Unlike in the past elections when special interest groups elections took place in the same, this time due to COVID-19 pandemic delegates voted from their respective districts and transmitted the results to the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters.
Namujju retained the NRM flag for the Lwengo Woman Parliamentary seat after defeating Dr Sarah Nkonge Muwonge with 46,491 against 28,474 votes. But Sarah Nkonge lodged a petition in Masaka High Court alleging that Namujju used academic qualifications owned by another person to secure her nomination.
Muhammad Nsubuga, the greater Masaka regional Police Spokesperson says the deputy IGP has moved in purposely to secure the area of any eventualities that may interfere with peace in the area.
Mathias Kasamba, the NRM’s Director for Mobilization argues that the majority of the petitions are largely a result of deliberate conduct of election officers who through collusion, abused their powers to mess-up the process, saying that the party must get rid of such characters if they are to have a clean exercise.
Eriya Kabigumira, the NRM election officer for Musubiiro village alongside five other people have been rushed to various health centers after they were badly beaten by club-wielding men that raided the polling stations.
Nickson Niwagaba, the Sembabule Resident District Commissioner confirms that he has been directed by State House to pass on the summons to leaders for a meeting scheduled for Thursday. Those summoned for the meeting include Shartsi Musherure Kuteesa and Godfrey Aine Kaguta a.k.a Sodo, who are both contesting for Mawogola North constituency.
