In 38 pictures: NRM LC5, mayoral primaries across Uganda

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) on Thursday, July 24, 2025, conducted primary elections for district chairpersons, municipal mayors and city mayors across the country.

The exercise that was by universal adult suffrage, where voters lined up behind their preferred candidate, comes exactly a week after the party's primary elections for parliamentary hopefuls.

Over 500 contenders contested for the NRM party flag for district chairperson (LC5) and mayoral positions. Seven candidates were unopposed, 30 battled for the city mayor slots, seven contested for the Lord Mayor ticket, while 495 vied for the LC5 position.

Voters started arriving at various polling stations in the country by 10:00 am, and polling started at noon (midday). And by 2:00 pm, results had started trickling in.

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Dispatch of election materials

At some polling stations, election materials were dispatched on time, while others experienced delays, with some not receiving materials until after 10:00 am. This timing was problematic, as it was the scheduled time for party members to verify their names in the voter register before voting could kick off at noon. The delays resulted in chaos at some polling stations.

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Slow start and low turnout

Unlike the parliamentary primaries, these primaries began slowly and experienced low voter turnout. Some polling stations reported only a few voters, while others had to wait a long time for people to arrive. At some locations, voters accused the electoral officials and voting materials of arriving late.

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Cross-checking the voters' register

To be eligible to vote, you must be a member of NRM. This membership is verified by cross-checking the voter register. Depending on the number of voters at the polling station, some registrars allowed voters to check their names individually, while in larger crowds, registrars read the names out loud.

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Lining up behind your favourite candidate

When it was time to vote, the verified voters quickly moved to stand behind their preferred candidates or their posters. Some lines snaked out for several meters, while others were very short, consisting of only a few voters.

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Results start trickling in

For some contestants, when they were announced as winners at their polling stations, they couldn't contain their joy. Excited supporters lifted them in celebration as they eagerly awaited similar news from other polling locations. Some kept on their phones for updates from their agents.

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