Bukedea, Uganda – The Minister of State for Works, Musa Ecweru, has officially petitioned the NRM Electoral Tribunal, decrying widespread irregularities in the recently concluded NRM primaries in Bukedea District.
Speaking to reporters today, Ecweru emphasized that his grievance is not about the outcome of the poll but about the integrity of the electoral process.
“Losing is not the issue, the process must be fair,” Ecweru stated firmly.
“In some areas, children as young as seven years old were allowed to vote. That is completely unacceptable.”
Ecweru’s petition adds to a mounting wave of dissatisfaction among ruling party loyalists, exposing deep cracks within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as it prepares for the 2026 General Elections.
Ecweru is not alone. A growing list of NRM flagbearer hopefuls, including high-profile figures such as Emmy Mbarebaki Omuhumuriza from Mbarara City South, have come forward to reject the primary results, citing similar irregularities.
Omuhumuriza, who lost to incumbent MP Mwiine Mpaka, accused party electoral officials of violating party regulations, tampering with the voter register, and facilitating underage voting.
“We are witnessing a dangerous trend where children in school uniforms are voting,” Omuhumuriza said.
“This endangers the credibility of the party and democracy at large.”
These complaints echo others from across the country, with allegations ranging from ballot stuffing, voter bribery, intimidation, manipulation of voters’ registers, unexplained vote tallies and violence at polling centers.
The NRM Disputes Tribunal is now under intense scrutiny. The flood of petitions has raised questions about its capacity to handle internal party justice, especially with elections looming.
The situation escalated further this week when State Minister for Lands, Persis Namuganza, was accused of physically attacking a returning officer after losing the Bukono Constituency flagbearer race, an incident that shocked party officials and drew public condemnation.
Meanwhile, NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi has dismissed attempts by defeated candidates to discredit the party’s internal processes.
“We won’t be intimidated by beauty or rank,” Odoi warned during a media address.
“Those who lost should respect party structures.”
Political analysts say the disputes reflect a larger crisis of internal democracy within the NRM. With dozens of constituencies affected and frustration brewing among grassroots supporters, there are growing fears that the party could face a credibility crisis heading into the 2026 elections.
“If the NRM cannot run clean internal elections, how can it convince the nation it can ensure fair national elections?” asked Dr. Sarah Wamala, a political governance expert at Makerere University.
Unless urgently addressed, the discontent could trigger defections, independent candidacies, or coordinated internal rebellion, weakening the NRM’s grip on power from within.
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