NRM village elections across the country - as it happened

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Presented and edited by Joseph Kizza
Updates from Vision Group reporters
(Time indicated is Ugandan time/EAT)
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 4:27 PM 

In Bukedea, Speaker Among takes the day

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, has been elected as the new chairperson of the NRM Women’s League for Kapopong village in Kolir subcounty, Bukedea district, reports Elizabeth Akiror.

She was declared duly elected by the NRM returning officer, Asaja Augustine, after going through unopposed.

Taking to social media platform X, Among thanked the residents of Kapopong village for trusting her with the leadership role. She pledged to do her best to strengthen the party and promote its values at the grassroots level.

Earlier in the day, Among, who is also the Bukedea District Woman MP, held community meetings in Kwarikwar and Komuge. She conducted baraza sessions as part of the nationwide exercise to verify registered members of the ruling NRM party.

She explained that the verification exercise is a crucial step in building strong grassroots structures, especially as the party prepares for the 2026 general elections.

Among urged all NRM leaders, from village to district level, to ensure the process runs smoothly. She also encouraged party members across the country to participate actively, stressing that their involvement is vital in shaping the party’s future leadership.
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 4:10 PM 

📸 Smooth polls in Kanyanya

In Wampamba Zone, Kanyanya parish in Kawempe north (Kampala), it has been smooth elections of village leaders.

Below, NRM members check their names in the NRM register before voting for their village leaders.

In Wampamba Zone, Kanyanya parish, LC 1 chairperson candidate Katongole Abdala (right) took the day.

NRM youth contenders Ebenezer Olobo (left) and Gideon Kato (right) went head to head.

Kato took the day and shook hands with his deputy.

NRM members led by the unopposed NRM flagbearer for LC1 chairperson Ben Munyangeri (centre) check for their names in the NRM voters register.

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 3:20 PM 

Candidates hug it out

There was no love lost between winner Willy Bisanga (21 votes) and his challenger Hellen Acuku (12 votes) in the race for the NRM LC1 flag for Moroto Road Cell in Soroti City.

The two hugged after the results were announced, with Acuku conceding.


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 3:20 PM 

Bukasa candidates unopposed

Despite initial delays due to a morning downpour, the NRM village elections in Bukasa village, Bweyogerere division, Kira Municipality, preceded smoothly at St. James Church of Uganda, reports Alfred Ochwo.

The NRM electoral official encouraged the gathered electorate to move closer to the polling area and announced the positions. In a remarkable display of unity, all the candidates were elected unopposed and they agreed to work together, with John Kadu taking the NRM flag for LC1.

Kadu attributed his success to the trust placed in him, stating that the opponents agreed to work together to galvanize their foundation for the 2026 general elections. He commended the youth for their wise decision-making. The newly elected leaders are expected to work together to drive progress in Bukasa village.

The elected leaders for Bukasa village are:

▪️ Frank Tugume - Chairman
▪️ Robert Mukisa - Vice Chairman
▪️ Majidu Kiwanuka - Secretary
▪️ Myres Kamuntu - Finance Secretary
▪️ John Kadu - Chairman Local Council One

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 2:45 PM 

Melee in Mbale

Chaotic scenes broke out in Mbale City's North City Division as some youths turned rowdy, with some of them seen trying to separate the fighting parties.

WATCH  👇🏽


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 2:31 PM 

In Soroti, Bisanga beats Acuku to NRM flag

In Soroti City, Willy Bisanga has won NRM LC1 flag of Moroto Road Cell with 21 votes, beating his sole challenger, Hellen Acuku, who got 12 votes. Bisanga, who is also the NRM chairperson for Soroti city, appreciated the people for their trust in him.

In a good gesture, Acuku congratulated Bisanga.

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 2:23 PM 

Polls peaceful in Kalangala — RDC

Samuel Nkuba has an update from the island district of Kalangala.

Hajji Sulait Lutakome, the Kalangala district NRM chairperson says the stiffest competition has been at Mwena landing site, where former chairperson Steven Kato Mumbere has been contesting with Viola Namatovu and Frank Byaruhanga.

“Namatovu has managed to win with 107 votes while Byaruhanga and Kato collected 18 votes each,” says Julius Nganda (pictured below), the NRM registrar for Kalangala district. 

In another contest for the NRM LC1 flag, Isma Mukiibi got 85 votes while his challenger Steven Kato tapped out of the race at the actual time of voting claiming that the elections were not fair. 

Heavy morning rain delayed voting in somme areas.

Fred Badda, the Kalangala resident district commissioner, said the NRM village elections were largely peaceful after close monitoring by security officers across the district.

In the picture below, winners Viola Namatovu and Isma Mukiibi in Mwena landing site jubilating after their NRM village poll victories.

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 2:02 PM 

'Low turnout is a wake-up call'

In the tourism city of Fort Portal, the village elections have been marked by an unexpectedly low voter turnout, reports Jonan Tusingwire.

Some polling stations remained widely empty for extended periods, with only a handful of voters lining behind their candidates once polling began.

Kato Abooki, the NRM physical mobiliser for Rwenzori and Toro sub-regions has attributed this low turnout to several factors, including lack of awareness about the primaries, and possible logistical challenges.

He also accused the NRM leadership at the centre for failing to facilitate them so that they can carry out the mobilization process. "The low turnout is a wake-up call for us to engage more effectively with our members," he says.

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 1:50 PM 

📸 Photo moment with the NRM chairman

Pictures from Rwakitura as President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM chairman, poses for a group with different groups.

Here with local elders...

With NRM electoral commissin officials....

And with the newly elected NRM leaders in Nshwewerenkye ward...

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 1:35 PM 

Mbale painted yellow 🟡

NRM Women League chairperson Lydia Wanyoto Mutende sits flanked by newly elected village chairperson Zakaria Mudebo an other party leaders in Mbale.

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 1:30 PM 

Voting suspended at Kigandani Cell

In Soroti city, NRM party registrar Justin Okello has suspended the election at Kigandani Cell, Moru Apesur Ward over unruly members, Godfrey Ojore reports.

Okello, resident city commissioner (RCC) Peter Pex Paak and the DPC have tried to calm tempers, but the tense situation has remained unchanged. It all started when people demanded to vote despite their names missing in the NRM party register.

The pictures below give you a sense of what transpired.

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 1:23 PM 

Ganafa remains unbeatable

In Uganda's western city of Mbarara, Eric Williams Ganafa has retained his seat as Katete Central chairman after winning with 503 votes in an election conducted at St Mary’s Polling Station. That means Ganafa, who has held the position since 1986, will be the NRM flagbearer in the general election.

WATCH  👇🏽


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 1:05 PM 

Museveni pleased with voting exercise

Earlier, President Museveni, who is also the chairman of the ruling NRM party, said he was pleased by the progress of the voting process in Nshwewerenkye, reports Simon Peter Tumwine. 

He appealed to the residents to also vote for their fellow NRM flagbearers in the 2026 general elections. 

Museveni also urged the area residents to learn how to plan animal grass, saying that by doing so, a farmer can feed his animals for a long time and will never run out of animal feeds. 

"I know a certain farmer in Fort Portal who has an acre of planted grass and he feeds this same grass to the animals. He gets a lot of litres of milk from them. You need to start planting animal feeds."

The NRM leader also said that soon, the government will be giving out solar-powered pumps to the residents.

(The pictures below show voters lining up in Rwakitura)

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 12:47 PM 

Naisanga edges Njuba in Kayunga Cell

In Kayunga Cell, Mafubira Ward in Jinja Northern Division (Jinja City), female voters have lined up behind their preferred candidates — Lukia Naisanga (right) and Betty Njuba (left) — to elect either one of them as their village chairperson for the NRM Women League, reports Donald Kiirya.

Eventually, Naisanga has garnered 65 votes, beating Njuba (42 votes), sparking celebrations within the former's camp.

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 12:30 PM 

Sweet taste of victory

In Jinja city, Mohammed Kiganira is relishing the sweet taste of victory after being elected the NRM flagbearer for Kayunga Cell, Mafubira Ward in Jinja Northern Division.

Kiganira has won with 300 votes while his challenger, George Bagoole, has managed a paltry five votes, reports Donald Kiirya.

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 12:05 PM 

From 351 voters to 290

In Soroti city, Godfrey Ojore reports that Hellen Acuku is challenging Willy Bisanga for the NRM LC1 flag in Moroto Road Cell. Acuku (pictured below), who has been the women chairperson of the LC1 committee, says she has gained experience having served under Bisanga, who has been doubling as the NRM chairman for Soroti city.

Meanwhile, Irene Amongin, the cell registrar, says 103 voters are expected to take part in today's election.

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 11:43 AM 

From 351 voters to 290

During the baraza in Rwakitura, out of the 351 NRM voters in Rwakitura cell, Nshwewerenkye ward, the party has whittled down the number to 290 after some of the residents audited the register, reports Simon Peter Tumwine.

Sixty-one (61) of the former residents were found to have migrated to other districts and villages while others died.

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 11:30 AM 

Museveni confirms his details

President Museveni has also confirmed his details as a member of NRM in Rwakitura and has also added his phone contact to his details, reports Simon Peter Tumwine.

The party returning officer revealed that although First Son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his wife are in the party register, some of their details are missing and need to be added to the party register.

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 11:25 AM 

First Lady shifted to Ntungamo — Museveni

In Rwakitura, Simon Peter Tumwine reports that during the reading of the names, President Museveni has revealed that First Lady Janet Museveni was once a resident of Rwakitura, before shifting to Ntungamo district.

In response, Dr Tanga Odoi said they had crosschecked with the party EC representatives in Ntungamo and they confirmed that the First Lady is indeed currently a resident of Ntungamo and a voter of NRM in the same district.
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 11:10 AM 

Heavy rain delays Kalangala exercise

Samuel Nkuba reports that a morning across Kalangala district has delayed the elections in villages.

At Mwena landing site in Kalangala Town Council, the exercise was paused awaiting security from Kalangala Central Police Station. Mwena is one of the known electoral areas with a history of chaotic polls.

Nkuba also reports that at 10:40 am, where the baraza would have started, the gazetted election centre was still out of bounds to voters. Even the registers were not yet available yet they were delivered on Monday (the eve).
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 11:00 PM 

Mbale bubbling in excitement

NRM National Women's League chairperson, Lydia Wanyoto Mutende explains what is happening today in Mbale.

WATCH  👇🏽


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 10:57 AM 

In Mbale, Wanyoto excites crowd

In the eastern city of Mbale, it has been high spirits during the arrival of the NRM National Women's League chairperson, Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, at Good Vision Parents Nursery and Primary School in Northern City Division, reports Paul Watala.

In a triumphant entry, Wanyoto held up an official portrait of party chairman President Yoweri Museveni as she was cheered on by the huge gathering of NRM supporters.

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 10:40 AM 

In Rwakitura, Museveni arrives

Earlier in Kiruhura district, NRM chairman President Yoweri Museveni arrived at Rwakitura cell, Nshwerenkye ward and was welcomed by Dr Tanga Odoi, the party's electoral commission chairperson, reports Simon Peter Tumwine.

Tanga revealed that the village had a total of 351 NRM voters as per the party register, adding that during the baraza, the party members at every village will audit the party register.

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 10:37 AM 

Verification in Soroti

In Uganda's eastern city of Soroti, Godfrey Ojore reports that NRM party members are verifying their names at Independence Square Ground, which hosts five polling stations ahead of the elections at midday.

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 10:30 AM 

NRM gears up for 2026 with village polls

Hello everyone. Today (May 6), it's a beehive of activity at the grassroots for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), as Uganda's ruling party ruling party conducts its village polls across the country.

Part of the day's programme is the verification of the party members' register during a village baraza. Voters are also set to elect their respective NRM LC1 flagbearers and the village structures. This is happening at the 72,000 NRM polling stations nationwide.

We have reporters stationed at different polling stations and will be briging to you updates from where they are.

Voting will be done by lining up only. No secret ballot here.