Kampala, Uganda – Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua has raised a stern alarm over what he calls deeply criminal irregularities in the ruling NRM party’s recent primaries.
Speaking after a series of chaotic internal polls held across the country on 17th July, Obua revealed shocking reports of minors and even infants being counted as voters, alongside mounting violence and electoral fraud.
“I’m deeply worried about the violence in our party, and worse still, I’ve seen children and babies being counted as voters. This is criminal,” Obua said, calling for swift action to restore credibility to the party’s electoral processes.
The July primaries, aimed at selecting NRM flag-bearers for the 2026 general elections, were riddled with violent clashes and widespread malpractice.
Constituencies in Lira, Mbale, Isingiro, Kamuli, and Ssembabule reported incidents ranging from ballot-stuffing to armed attacks at polling stations.
Security personnel were deployed in several hotspots, but their presence did little to prevent intimidation and clashes between rival camps.
Observers and local leaders fear that the escalating violence, once confined to internal party struggles, could pose a direct threat to national stability if similar chaos spills into the 2026 general elections.
Obua has urged NRM’s leadership to consider a party-list voting system instead of individual secret ballots, which he believes fuel unnecessary competition and hostility among candidates.
He also called for stricter voter verification measures to ensure that only eligible members cast ballots, tough penalties for those involved in electoral fraud, including underage registration, and a strengthened monitoring framework between the party and the state to safeguard the legitimacy of future primaries.
“Without internal discipline and transparency, we risk damaging the trust of our supporters and the entire country,” Obua warned.
Analysts say Obua’s statements reflect deeper concerns about Uganda’s electoral integrity. The revelation of infants and children on voter rolls underscores systemic loopholes that could undermine not just NRM’s internal credibility, but the legitimacy of the 2026 general elections.
“If the ruling party cannot run fair and orderly primaries, how will the nation trust the fairness of national elections?”
The NRM Secretariat is expected to review Obua’s proposals in the coming weeks as calls for reform grow louder. Party insiders hint at disciplinary proceedings against officials implicated in voter fraud and violence.
Obua’s warning serves as a wake-up call, not only for the NRM but for Uganda’s wider democratic institutions. The party’s response to these allegations could shape both its internal unity and the credibility of Uganda’s broader electoral journey.
Also read: EC Warns NRM Primaries May Ignite Chaos During 2026 Elections
