Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa’s recent call for unity within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is being drowned out by scenes of disarray and disillusionment as the party’s grassroots elections descend into confusion, apathy, and allegations of foul play.
While Tayebwa urged losing candidates to “continue supporting the party to help it prepare for the 2026 elections and strengthen efforts to deliver essential services,” on-the-ground realities reflect a movement grappling with deep internal fractures.
In Kampala, the primaries revealed glaring cracks in the party’s organisational machinery.
At Wabigalo Church Zone in Makindye Division, voter turnout was conspicuously low.
Though some attributed the poor showing to an early morning downpour, many pointed to broader issues—disorganisation, voter fatigue, and a perceived disconnect between party leaders and ordinary members.
Further north in the Makerere Industrial Area, chaos reigned. Residents failed to elect their Local Council chairperson due to confusion over the voter register.
The register, meant to guide the electoral process, instead became a source of contention, leaving candidates John Mwanguhya and Kasim Lubowa Musisi in limbo as frustrated voters walked away without casting a ballot.
In Naguru-31 Village, tempers flared when a voter was barred from entering the polling station for failing to recite his third name.
The incident sparked verbal confrontations, with candidate George Musoke accusing his opponents of using technicalities to disenfranchise supporters.
“They’re blocking voters on purpose,” Musoke charged, describing the incident as a calculated ploy to influence the outcome.
Though some primaries proceeded without incident, even decisive victories did little to offset the general disorder.
In Kasijjagirwa Village, Edward Walugembe secured 197 votes, easily defeating Wilson Byaruhanga with 20 and Hassan Kalibbala with just nine. Yet such orderly outcomes were the exception.
In Rubaga Division’s Kakeeka Village, candidate Deus Bwerere condemned election officials for relocating polling stations without notifying residents.
“We have about 200 registered voters in this village, but only 30 have come to vote,” Bwerere said on May 6.
He blamed the low turnout on poor communication and accused organisers of sowing confusion through last-minute changes.
These stories—repeated in different forms across districts—highlight a troubling pattern of administrative missteps, broken communication channels, and suspicions of manipulation.
The chaos undermines Tayebwa’s appeal for party cohesion and raises questions about the NRM’s readiness for the 2026 general elections.
What emerges from the grassroots is a portrait of a ruling party struggling to keep its base intact.
The very mechanisms meant to fortify NRM’s democratic credentials are instead spotlighting its vulnerabilities.
Without urgent reform to its internal electoral systems, the party risks entering the next national contest weakened from within.