Kampala — A section of National Resistance Movement (NRM) youth leaders from across Uganda has petitioned party chairperson Yoweri Kaguta Museveni over alleged interference and intimidation ahead of the National Youth Council elections scheduled for this week in Kampala.
The youth delegation, led by Kalungu District Youth Council chairperson Yazid Abas Yiga, accused officials from the NRM party electoral commission and secretariat of pressuring delegates to vote for preferred candidates through phone calls.
“The Secretariat has planted their desired candidates, which contravenes the party’s constitution. On top of that, officials have been calling all of us to vote for their preferred candidates. We are disappointed and call upon our ‘jjajja’ to intervene and address our concerns,” said Abas Yiga.
Delegates also alleged that some participants are overage, in violation of the National Youth Council Act, which limits eligibility to individuals aged 18 to 30.
“Is this party for individuals, or does it belong to the godfathers and godmothers at the Secretariat? We have no chance of sitting at the table with them,” said Cliffeton Manyiromujuni, a youth delegate from UNISA.
Atwine Bruce, NRM youth from Bushenyi District, added: “It is a call to the chairman because there should be fair and free elections. Many delegates have not even been nominated yet, and tomorrow we are supposed to elect these candidates.”
Gloria Nassejje, NRM youth from Masaka, echoed concerns about intimidation. “Officials at the NRM Secretariat should stop calling us day and night to vote for their candidates,” she said.
The youth leaders warned that failure to address these concerns could push them to support opposition candidates in the elections, signaling potential divisions within the party’s youth wing.