People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) promoter Proscovia Salaamu Musumba has accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of presiding over widespread electoral malpractice during its July 17 party primaries.
She claimed the process was marred by bribery, manipulation of the voters’ register, and the involvement of minors.
Speaking during NBS Frontline on Thursday, Musumba alleged that the NRM register was largely ineffective and that many registrars exploited the situation for personal gain.
“Was the NRM register used? To a large extent, no. The register didn’t work. The majority of the registrars took this as an opportunity to make money,” she said.
Musumba, who described herself as “the gatekeeper of Luuka district,” claimed to have first-hand knowledge of irregularities in the area during the primaries.
“Money played a big part,” she said. “One candidate had Shs80 million for the registrar to declare him the winner.”
The PFF official further criticized the alleged recruitment of young people to participate in fraudulent electoral activities, likening it to the use of child soldiers.
“The worst part of it was to co-opt young people into this political fraud. It’s despicable that a political party can use minors to effect electoral fraud,” she stated.
Musumba expressed doubt over the NRM’s willingness to address misconduct within its ranks, suggesting the party is content with the status quo.
“I don’t think NRM is interested in handling misconduct. As far as they are concerned, all is well,” she said.
She also questioned the moral compass of the ruling party, contrasting what she described as its “pond” mentality with her own belief in the “ocean” of democracy.
“I don’t know which social fabric NRM comes from to believe that the majority of what they are doing is alright. Some people’s mindset is in a pond called NRM. Mine is in an ocean called democracy,” she said.