Museveni hails 'more peaceful, fraud-free' NRM primaries

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President Yoweri Museveni, who is the chairman of Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), has congratulated his party on a "more peaceful and fraud-free" primary election for district chairpersons, mayors and councillors conducted on Thursday (July 24).

"The more peaceful and fraud-free nature of the exercise on Thursday is on account of the decisive anti-crime actions we took against the mistake-makers in the NRM primaries for MPs that had taken place on the 17th of July 2025," he said in a statement.

Based on the reports he has received, Museveni has also urged the exposure of any criminality associated with the just-concluded internal elections.

People lining up to vote during the recently held NRM primaries. (Credit: Alfred Ochwo)

Within the last nine days, the NRM party has conducted primaries for Members of Parliament, district chairpersons, city mayors, division mayors, city councillors and district councillors.

Jubilant supporters during the recently held NRM primaries. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

The winners of these internal elections are the party's flagbearers in next year's general elections, which will be conducted between January 12 and February 9, 2026.

Here is Museveni's statement in full:

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The NRM members, especially the Bazzukulu and all the other Ugandans. Greetings.

I congratulate the Ugandans that are members of the NRM on account of, apparently, a much more peaceful and fraud- free Primaries for the LC-Vs, Mayors, Councillors, etc., that were conducted on Thursday, the 24th of July 2025.

This is what the initial reports are telling me. However, it is reported that there was some attempted disruption in Arua that was contained. Anybody aware of any criminality, please expose it. I am referring to the criminality associated with the Primaries of the NRM last Thursday.

By yesterday evening, reports confirmed that 7.95 million NRM members had participated in the Primaries of Thursday. There were some districts that had not yet brought in their voting figures, and there were other districts where the candidates went through unopposed, such as Kyiruhuura (normally misspelled as Kiruhuura).

This is not bad at all if you bear in mind that this was, again, mid-week and on a working day. Besides, the elections for levels lower than the MPs and President normally generate less excitement, which should not be the case because they are also very important.

The more peaceful and fraud-free nature of the exercise on Thursday is on account of the decisive anti-crime actions we took against the mistake-makers in the NRM Primaries for MPs that had taken place on the 17th of July 2025.

Up to now, a total of 333 persons have been arrested, and 48 of these have been charged in court, 13 of whom are NRM district registrars. They are to face prosecution in connection with, mainly, altering the results. The operation against the other mistake-makers, such as those who bribed voters, etc., are continuing.

In connection with the use of money to bribe voters, I watched a TV panel involving one Kivumbi, who was saying that those who bribe voters are copying the example of Museveni, who normally gives the brown envelope.

Hon. Kivumbi, the brown envelope Museveni gives to musicians, and such cases is called Kurongoora (rewarding people for some work done). That brown envelope is a glorious one. It is the official envelope of the Republic of Uganda, given by the President of Uganda to deserving People who have done something that is of interest- farming, singing or very elderly People I meet on the road.

I gave sh5 million to a large group, maybe 50, of Bwola dancers in Patongo recently, with their Ostrich feathers head-dress and very elaborate dance that takes a lot of preparation. How can a reward for performance be a bribe? Why do we give bursaries to good academic performers or medals and even cash to athletes?

The awards or rewards are, of course, given by authorised People; not everybody gives medals. The Kurongoora that I do to dancers and others, I do as President of Uganda, visiting Patongo once in three or so years.

When I am a private citizen in Rwakyitura, I will not kurongoora members of the public. Should Kivumbi copy Museveni and try to Kurongoora dancers with sh. 5million? Not at all.

The Hon. Kivumbi is not the President of Uganda and has no budget for it. He can think of a much more modest figure for Kivuuwa dancers, like what people give as offertory in the Church.

The widow in the bible gave a kapeesha (a copper coin), and Jesus appreciated her so much. Hence, Hon. Kivumbi, stop maligning the President of Uganda for doing his work loyally. Maybe Kivumbi would prefer that I put that money for public donations in a private bank account abroad.

Unfortunately, for Kivumbi, I do not have such accounts.

NB: Helping very old people or somebody in a wheel-chair, is not kurongoora (reward) but kuyaamba (help).

Otherwise, if Kivumbi was not blinded by prejudice, he would have heard that the NRA/ UPDF for most of the last 55 years (eversince 1971), has been fighting for no pay or for very low pay; but fighting ferociously, winning numerous victories and bringing peace to Uganda and preserving it.

Therefore, the use of money for politics, beyond the legitimate needs of logistics, is in spite of my vision and that of the NRM and our known practices and not because of us.

It was the broadening of participation in the Politics of Uganda (Parliament, etc.), especially after 1996, that brought in the culture of money, fundraising, allowances, etc. We have always pointed out the dangers of that practice. If People thought that that was clever politics, they now, I am sure, see the danger. Let us all work together to eradicate this mistake. We have always castigated it.

Signed:

YOWERI K. MUSEVENI

SSAABALWANYI

SSEMALUNGU