Agency
President Yoweri Museveni has strongly condemned irregularities reported during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries held on July 17, 2025, warning of tough action against perpetrators.
In a detailed post-election message to NRM members, Museveni expressed concern over what he described as “unpatriotic actors” who allegedly tampered with the party’s democratic process through result manipulation, register tampering, voter bribery, and violence.
He disclosed that 9.22 million members participated in the primaries—a turnout he described as commendable, given it took place mid-week on a working day.
However, he noted that this figure represents about 50% of the confirmed 18.5 million NRM members.
Among the most troubling issues Museveni identified were the altering of election results despite the transparency of lining behind candidates, the tampering with registers—some of which appeared bloated despite an earlier clean-up on May 6, 2025—the use of violence in some areas, which resulted in injuries and even loss of life, and the use of money and materials to bribe voters.
Museveni ordered the prosecution of individuals involved in these electoral malpractices, beginning with those who tampered with results in full view of the public. He warned that the entire village knew who voted for whom during the lining-up process, making result-alteration both obvious and traceable.
Meanwhile, Police at North Kyoga Regional Police Headquarters are holding Bosco Onyik Ogwal, the NRM District Chairman for Oyam, and Jackline Adong, the District Registrar, in connection with alleged electoral malpractice during the recent NRM primary elections in Oyam North Constituency.
The two were arrested on Sunday in Lira City after being summoned by the Regional CID Department over the disputed declaration of Willy Omodo as winner of the NRM primaries — a decision that has been rejected by all four rival aspirants.
The Oyam North race has drawn five contenders: Willy Omodo, Stephen Okello, Billie Otoo, Daniel Bala, and Wilbert Otala.
Multiple attempts by Mega FM to reach Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, for confirmation went unanswered.
However, a close family member of Onyik, who requested anonymity, confirmed the arrest but declined to provide further details.
Samwell Engola Okello, one of the candidates, accused the registrar of manipulating vote tallies in favor of Omodo.
He confirmed he had lodged a complaint and had been summoned to make a statement alongside the accused. Billie Otoo, the NRM Publicity Secretary for Oyam District and a fellow contestant, confirmed that investigations into the conduct of the primary elections are underway.
