NRM's electoral body says elders key in curbing poll violence

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The electoral commission of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has urged elders, local leaders, and cultural figures to play a leading role in ensuring violence-free elections.

Fred Jachan Omach, the vice-chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, told New Vision on Wednesday (July 16) that the role of elders in calming political tensions is critical, particularly in rural areas where security presence may be limited.

The ruling party will conduct its party primaries for Members of Parliament on Thursday (July 17).

NRM will then hold primary elections for the LC5 councillors and municipal city division mayors a week later (on July 24).

Ahead of the much-anticipated polls, the party is keen on having a peaceful exercise.

“There are 72,000 villages where elections will take place, but the Police Force is stretched thin and cannot be present everywhere. We appeal to elders to help contain tensions and prevent violence,” said Omach.

He said more officers would be deployed in identified hotspots.

Omach added that 151 tallying centres, corresponding to the country’s 151 districts, would receive police deployments during the voting process.

Dr Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, emphasised the commission’s zero tolerance for electoral violence.

He told reporters at the NRM offices in Kyadondo, Kampala, that any candidate found inciting violence would have their results nullified.

Odoi cautioned aspirants against manipulating the voter register and stressed that voters without national IDs would be verified by village committees.

“There are false claims that the commission has been compromised. We are not. We are funded solely by the commission,” he said.

Odoi revealed that 17 NRM candidates are currently unopposed.

To enhance transparency in vote tallying, he said polling officials would use megaphones when announcing results. However, only 500 megaphones have so far been procured due to limited supply.

Odoi said all district registrars are expected to submit election results to the commission by 4:00 pm on polling day.

He also directed that expectant mothers, breastfeeding women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the sick be allowed to vote without standing in queues.

The party election body boss named districts like Luwero, Busia, Tororo, and Ssembabule as electoral hotspots and warned that polling officials and candidates involved in malpractice would face disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikuubo visited the NRM headquarters to request additional protection.

Ssekikuubo, who is contesting to retain his seat, shared with the media a letter he had written to Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, requesting police escorts.