NRM village elections kick off, tension grips Sembabule

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While the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) village structure elections are poised to energise the party’s political machinery ahead of the 2026 polls, a dark cloud looms over the process, with incidents of violence, mysterious disappearances, and internal power struggles threatening to derail the spirit of democratic participation.

From 10:00am to 2:00pm, over 72,000 polling stations across Uganda are expected to host NRM members in their respective villages as they line up to vote for their preferred LC1 and LC2 leaders.

Voting will be through lining-up behind the preferred candidate and follows a mandatory village baraza (community assembly) where names in the NRM register will be read out loud and verified. In case a member is dead or ineligible, their name will be struck off.
The party secretary general, Richard Todwong, said the baraza is not just a party ritual, but a full-fledged political mobilisation exercise aimed at authenticating members’ names ahead of the elections.

“We ask the village members to come and fully participate in the election process and audit of the register. Only those already registered and verified at the baraza will be allowed to vote,” he said during a press conference at the party headquarters in Nakasero, Kampala.

However, the process is already under strain in several regions. In Buyende, Lira city, Ssembabule and parts of Kampala, logistical delays, administrative confusion and outright conflict have marred the preparations.

Todwong assured the public that the NRM electoral commission and the Police are actively resolving the issues.

“We are optimistic that the polling exercise will conclude well, despite the ups and downs,” he said.

INTEGRITY OF PROCESS

NRM electoral commission boss Dr Tanga Odoi underscored the importance of today’s barazas as a mechanism for cleansing the party’s voter roll.

“Some politicians had inflated our party register with names of schoolgoing students. The baraza will help us audit this register village by village,” he said.

From 10:00am to 11:00am, each village will hold a baraza where the register is read out in the local language. Voting will begin at noon and end at 2:00pm, followed by result submissions by 3:00pm.

Odoi emphasised that no new registrations are being conducted.

“Only those in the register are allowed to participate. This is not a recruitment exercise, it’s a validation exercise,” he explained.

Odoi also clarified procedures for situations, such as unopposed candidates, illness, or absenteeism.

“If a candidate is sick, an agent with a photo will represent them. If only one candidate expresses interest, they will be declared unopposed,” he said.

LWEMIYAGA, A HOTSPOT

Like in the previous years, Lwemiyaga County in Ssembabule district is once again a hotspot where mysterious disappearance of the county party registrar, Bogere Matovu, has thrown the elections in 133 villages into disarray.

The issue came to a head when supporters aligned to area lawmaker Theodore Ssekikubo staged a protest at the district NRM party offices, expressing suspicion that the electoral process was being manipulated.

Their vigil only ended after a late-night intervention by Gidi Sadala, the NRM regional electoral commission chairperson, deployed by NRM electoral commission boss Dr Tanga Odoi.

Investigations by the district security committee and Police revealed that the missing party yellow books (key electoral documents) had been recovered and filed as exhibits.

Still, the authorities ruled that the books would not be used in the elections due to the unresolved investigations.

Deputy resident district commissioner Faisal Sseruwagi confirmed the kidnapping reports and stressed that Matovu had failed to submit the polling returns by the April 30 deadline.

“The matter is still under investigation, and we cannot subject the books to the election exercise,” he said.

Insiders allege that the tensions stem from the fierce competition between Ssekikubo and Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande, both eyeing the 2026 parliamentary seat.

Ssekikubo has raised alarm over possible election rigging attempts, claiming the disappearance was a ploy to distort the voting process in favour of his opponents.

MUKONO

Meanwhile, in Mukono district, political tension has reached a boiling point, as internal party elections for the district chairmanship turned into a mudslinging battle.

What began as a political rivalry between Haji Haruna Ssemakula, the NRM vice-chairperson for Mukono, and Haji Twahir Ssebaggala, the incumbent district party chairperson of 15 years, has spiraled into a dangerous contest fuelled by accusations of armed threats and character assassination.

The latest controversy revolves around an incident reported to have occurred at the home of Andrew Kaddu Kabugo, the NRM chairperson for Kasawo cell in Kasawo town council.

According to Ssemakula’s camp, a one Hussein Musambi infiltrated their strategy meeting and refused to leave, prompting Ssemakula to allegedly draw a pistol and order him out.

The claims have been vehemently denied by Ssebaggala’s supporters, who dismissed them as “concoctions” aimed at soiling the incumbent’s image.

Ssemakula, visibly frustrated during a Friday interview, denied any wrongdoing and vowed to pursue legal redress.

 “I have all along been using peaceful tactics to campaign and win support. I even donated motorcycles to all 18 sub-county NRM leaders to improve party activities. I will not sit back as my name is dragged through the mud,” he said.

Ssemakula added that under Ssebaggala’s leadership, the NRM had lost all four parliamentary seats in the district to the opposition.

“When Ssebaggala took over, NRM had three of the four MPs. Now we have none. It’s time for a change,” he stated.

The rivalry climaxed during the belated Women’s Day celebrations at Namuganga playground, attended by works minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala.

While the minister encouraged candidates to avoid divisive politics and instead focus on delivering their manifestos, the feud between Ssemakula and Ssebaggala was palpable.

POLICE, PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE

With heightened tensions reported in several regions, the NRM has formally written to the Police requesting security deployment at polling centres.

Todwong reassured members that the Police had pledged support to ensure smooth operations countrywide.

President Yoweri Museveni, also the national NRM chairperson, personally set an example by travelling to his home village in Rwakitura to participate in the elections.

First Lady Janet Museveni returned to Ntungamo Ireenga for the same. The Speaker of Parliament, her deputy, the Vice-President and all Central Executive Committee (CEC) members were also deployed to their home constituencies to lead by example.

“The presence of senior leaders at the grassroots will not only strengthen the credibility of the register, but also show unity and leadership at all levels,” Todwong said.

PARTY STRENGTH

Boasting a whopping 19.8 million registered members across the country, the NRM prides itself on being the only political entity capable of nationwide electoral organisation. “Other parties concentrate in a few constituencies they believe they can win. NRM is everywhere,” Todwong boasted.

He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity and discipline, even as it grapples with logistical hiccups and internal rivalries.

“We have trained our party officials. The party electoral commission is in charge. We are ready,” Todwong affirmed.

Political analysts say today’s village-level elections mark the beginning of a long and intense political journey.

According to them, the outcomes of these internal polls will shape not only the future of local governance structures but also set the tone for the national campaigns leading into 2025 and 2026.