The aggrieved members accuse district party officials of shielding a few selected individuals expected to back their interests, at the expense of the majority's will.
A section of National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Sironko District are protesting what they describe as deliberate attempts to block them from being nominated for various positions in the ongoing party leadership elections.
The aggrieved members accuse district party officials of shielding a few selected individuals expected to back their interests, at the expense of the majority's will. According to the NRM roadmap, nominations and expressions of interest for aspiring candidates at the sub-county level began on Tuesday and are expected to end on Friday morning.
The disgruntled members convened a press conference on Wednesday evening at Last Chance Resort in Budadiri Town Council to air their grievances.
Siraji Mugonyi, an aspirant for NRM chairperson of Zesui Sub-county, said he paid the required nomination fee of Shs 50,000 at the NRM office but was not issued a receipt. When he inquired about the status of his nomination, he claims he was insulted and later chased from the office by the administrative secretary, a one Wilson Wambaka.
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James Wanyaka, another aspirant from Legenya, said he was shocked to be told that nominations for his sub-county had already closed, even though it was the first official day for submitting nomination forms and expressing interest. He called on higher party authorities to intervene and ensure all members are allowed to exercise their democratic rights.
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Moses Madanda accused the district NRM office of tampering with results from lower-level electoral processes. He claimed that in his parish, the declared winners were not the individuals elected by members. Madanda called for a comprehensive investigation into the entire election process in Sironko to restore members’ trust. He also alleged that registrars have been directed to remove any delegate who does not support the current district party chairperson, Hajji Lumolo Mafabi.
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Allan Wanambwa, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Sironko, confirmed that his office has received numerous complaints regarding the NRM electoral process. He urged party leaders to act professionally and uphold public trust, especially during the selection of local leaders. Wanambwa emphasized that all party members deserve equal treatment and warned that favoritism is fueling unnecessary unrest.
When contacted via WhatsApp, administrative secretary Wilson Wambaka denied all the allegations. He insisted that no positions have been ring-fenced and advised the aggrieved members to formally lodge their complaints through appropriate party channels.
Earlier in the week, a registrar in Mutufu Town Council, Sironko, was arrested and detained over allegations of electoral malpractice. Police have vowed to crack down on anyone found culpable of promoting irregularities in the election process.
Emmanuel Bwayo
Freelancer