The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has ordered fresh investigations into the alleged mismanagement of Shs186 million disbursed to Apac District for vote protection activities during the 2026 General Elections.
The directive followed a mediation meeting convened by the NRM Secretariat in Apac and chaired by the party's Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Denis Hamson Obua, to establish the facts behind allegations that have sparked divisions among local party leaders.
Obua said the NRM national leadership received complaints regarding how the funds were managed after being released to the district.
"There is a complaint that was lodged to the national leadership of NRM and it zeros on the usage of the funds that the party sent to Apac District," Obua said.
"We are here on a fact-finding mission. We can confirm we sent the money. The question we are asking is whether, in executing your role and responsibility of disbursing the money, you followed the guidelines issued by the party."
He said the Secretariat deployed officials from the party's legal, finance and electoral affairs departments to mediate the dispute and establish whether the allegations were substantiated.
Obua disclosed that the matter has already resulted in both a criminal investigation by police and a civil case before court.
The disputed funds, amounting to Shs186 million, were remitted by the NRM Secretariat on January 13, 2026, to facilitate vote protection activities in Apac during the general elections.
Maruzi North County MP Bernard Otim Odoc said the meeting allowed party leaders to candidly discuss concerns over the management of the money.
"The main reason for our coming here is to resolve an internal dispute regarding financial mismanagement of monies that were sent for NRM party activities. What transpired inside was a moment of truth-telling to the extent that some people have accepted that things have gone wrong," Odoc said.
He noted that grassroots leaders had consistently petitioned the party secretariat, claiming that some intended beneficiaries never received the facilitation allocated to them.
"The director of finance has given a very good highlight of how monies have been sent and that gives a true picture of people's cry that people have not been given the due money they were supposed to get," he added.
Following the deliberations, the expanded NRM District Executive Committee and officials from the Secretariat resolved to recommend further investigations by the Uganda Police Force into the alleged misuse of the funds.
The meeting also resolved that the current signatories to the Apac NRM district account be temporarily relieved of their duties pending the outcome of the investigations and ongoing court proceedings. Interim signatories were appointed to oversee the account in the meantime.
Other resolutions included appointing a substantive NRM Administrative Secretary for Apac District within six months and encouraging party members to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms before resorting to court or public platforms.
Despite the controversy, party leaders expressed optimism that the intervention would restore unity within the district and strengthen preparations for the forthcoming Local Council and Women Council elections.
"Today, we give them the greatest assurance that not even a coin will stop on the way. Every coin that must reach every village, every leader, and every voter will reach," Odoc said.
