Ambassador James Kinobe confirmed the move during a party restructuring meeting at Ntawo playground in Mukono Central Division over the weekend. He alleged that an unnamed politician, who plans to contest for the party’s parliamentary ticket, facilitated the recruitment of opposition members to increase their chances in the primaries.
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Amb. Kinobe addressing NRM supporters at Mukono.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is considering compiling a fresh party register for Mukono Municipality amid concerns that opposition supporters were secretly added to manipulate internal elections.
Ambassador James Kinobe confirmed the move during a party restructuring meeting at Ntawo playground in Mukono Central Division over the weekend.
He alleged that an unnamed politician, who plans to contest for the party’s parliamentary ticket, facilitated the recruitment of opposition members to increase their chances in the primaries.
“This only results in a weaker candidate who cannot win in the general elections,” Kinobe warned.
He added that the party would discard some of the existing registers and introduce alternative voting methods in select villages to ensure fairness.
Mukono Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Fatumah Ndisaba Nabitaka condemned the practice, saying some party members had failed to learn from past mistakes.
“It is regrettable that certain individuals are using manipulative tricks. How can you recruit opposition members into the NRM register just to win primaries? They will abandon you in the general elections,” she said.
The controversy comes after the NRM recently updated its registers nationwide.
Mike Ssegawa, an NRM ticket contender for the Mukono Municipality seat and Deputy RDC of Kasanda District, urged party members to focus on unity rather than internal conflicts.
“If we want to regain momentum in Greater Mukono, we should campaign on the same platform and be ready to support whoever wins the primaries,” Ssegawa said.
Daisy Ssonko Nabatanzi, another aspirant, emphasized her commitment to reclaiming the constituency from the opposition and securing it for President Museveni. Nabatanzi previously contested for Mukono Municipality mayor but lost to Erisa Mukasa Nkoyoyo of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
NRM officials in Mukono have been holding restructuring meetings across sub-counties, but the process has been marred by infighting.
In Nagojje and Mukono Central Division, young NRM members accused the district leadership of mismanaging the party, alleging that some officials even protected opposition votes in the last elections. They have demanded that an independent official oversee the remaining restructuring meetings to restore credibility.
In response, district party chairperson Hajji Twahir Ssebaggala dismissed the accusations, calling them an attempt by rivals to discredit him ahead of the next primaries.
Despite the internal tensions, Ambassador Kinobe assured party members that the secretariat had secured funding for the restructuring process and would ensure NRM remains stronger.
