Date for NRM primaries has not changed — Odoi

KAMPALA - The chairperson of the National Resistance Movement's (NRM) electoral commission has refuted claims that Uganda's ruling party has extended its party primaries to another date.

“There has not been any change in the initial date of the party primaries," said Dr Tanga Odoi ahead of Thursday's exercise.

"The elections will proceed as planned and we shall conduct our party primaries for Members of Parliament on July 17."

Odoi made the remarks on Tuesday (July 15) at a press conference at the NRM electoral commission offices in Kyadondo, Kampala.

The ruling party will then conduct primary elections for the LC5 councillors and municipal city division mayors on July 24.

Odoi warned that no campaigns will be entertained after Tuesday (July 15), adding that the party will use voter registers where they are ready.

“Initially, the party wanted to use voter location slips but because of time and financial constraints, the party has not been in position to print out the voter location slips for all the 18.4 million party-registered voters," he said.

The NRM has printed out new party registers, with the old ones withdrawn from all parts of the country.

“The party has a total of 18.4 million voters, and three-quarters of the register is ready for use. Our registers in most of the regions have been finalised, but not in all regions,” said Odoi.

He said the NRM electoral commission is fully prepared to conduct the party elections, saying the party has all the necessary documents that validate an election.

“The declaration forms (DR) forms are ready, staff, the voting materials have been purchased, and the members of NRM are ready to vote. Where there are a few hiccups, we shall sort them while on ground."

'Stay warned!'

Richard Todwong, the NRM secretary general, said all the necessary voting material will be available in all the 72,000 villages across the country before polling day.

“We are strictly going to use the register. If you are not in our register, you will not vote,” he warned.

Todwong said the party has received complaints that candidates are bribing voters, using tribal sentiments, among others, during the campaigns.

“We warn all those bribing voters, using tribal sentiments, religious sentiments during the campaigns. We know these candidates. Please stay warned because we shall use this evidence in the tribunal against you.

"Even if you win but through the wrong approach, we shall recommend that the party does not give the party flag."

Todwong noted that the preservation of handing over the party flag is by the party and also warned the party district chairpersons against interference.