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There was controversy on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Agago district headquarters during the NRM district delegates’ meeting.

The controversy arose after a section of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party delegates endorsed economic monitoring state minister Beatrice Akello Akori’s sole candidature for the 2026 NRM party primaries.

The meeting which was interfered by rain, started peacefully at about 3:00pm with lunch, followed by a brief from the district party chairperson and discussions by the delegates on the challenges and opportunities in the party. These were followed by the endorsement of Akori and President Yoweri Museveni’s sole candidatures, something that was strongly condemned by some of the members present.

Some of the delegates scrambling to put their signatures on the board bearing Akori and Museveni's portraits. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

Michael Komakech, the Agago district, Patongo sub-county NRM chairperson moved the motion for the endorsement of Akori's sole candidature for the District Woman Member of Parliament seat in the 2026 party primary election.

According to Komakech, Akori has zero tolerance for corruption, is a peace builder and has supported the education and health sectors of the districts. The above factors, according to Komakech, are reason enough that her position should be ring-fenced.

“In just half of her term in Parliament, Akori was able to push for the rehabilitation works for the upgrade of Patongo Health Centre III to Health Centre IV. The health facility is essential in providing quality healthcare services to the populace,” he said.

Bena Acuma Oyaro, the district councilor for Adilang sub-county, the seconder of the motion signing the board. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

Komakech’s motion was seconded by Bena Acuma Oyaro, the district councillor for Adilang sub-county and the district secretary for health who hailed Akori for donating a multimillion printer to the district for printing examination papers for learners in the district.

She also added that Akori lobbied for roads for the district. Akori was, however, absent from the event.

Protests against move

No sooner had Oyaro finished her statement, than a protest sparked from the opposing camp led by Miria Omara, the district councillor for Arum, Omot and Gere-Gere sub-counties.

Miria Omara protesting Akori's sole candidature. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

Seated in front under a tent just a few metres from that of the chief guest and the district party executive committee members with those on her side, Omara’s verbal protest interrupted the session after it drew the attention of all cameras and recorders deployed to cover the event.

“I will petition [against] this decision in court. There is no sole candidature except that of President Museveni,” she said.

According to her, they (her side) disagreed with the brains behind the move from the onset but that their signatures were used to validate the endorsement without their consent.

She also added that whereas the mover and the seconder of the motion claimed to have represented the voice of all the 154,322 NRM members in the district, no member of the party in the grassroots was consulted to that effect.

Irritated by the relentless protests by Omara and her team, the master of ceremony ordered the DJ to play some music, that ushered the purported winning team to a light moment of dance, and subsequent signing of the board bearing Akori and Museveni’s portraits, an exercise led by the chief guest Agago Resident District Commissioner James Kidega Nok.

In his parting shot, Kidega assured the delegates that the NRM party would go by individuals who were competent enough.