NRM repeats voting exercise in over 400 villages

____________________

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) electoral commission chairman, Dr Tanga Odoi, has praised party members for their active participation in the village elections.

Odoi reported that the exercise was largely successful, with 98.5% of party villages conducting elections. However, he noted that the process was marred in 410 villages where the elections did not go well, necessitating a repeat today, Wednesday.

He urged leaders in those areas to ensure security so that members can vote without disruption.

“Areas which didn’t succeed yesterday must vote today. Goons or no, good security must prevail for those areas to vote. And if those goons are just meant to and hired to disturb the NRM electoral commission activities, we are going to take them head-on in different areas,” he added.

Odoi made the remarks on Wednesday, May 7, while addressing a press conference at the NRM offices in Mbarara City to update the nation about the ongoing NRM village election exercise, which took place yesterday across the country.

He called on all NRM members to support and participate in party activities.

“When the National Electoral Commission calls on the public to update the register, the public rushes. But when NRM calls the public to update the register, they are hesitant because they think NRM, as usual, will behave the way they want. Under the leadership of Hon. Todwong, things have changed. You will vote only and only if your name appears in the register,” he said.

“If they had responded to the registration process the way they responded yesterday, we would not have many issues,” he added.

He said his office is compiling a comprehensive report on the exercise, which will be submitted to the Central Executive Committee soon.

(Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

Odoi hails President and First Lady

Tanga Odoi thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni for participating in the exercise. President Museveni oversaw the election at Rwakitura village, Nshwerenkye parish in Kiruhura district, while the First Lady joined NRM supporters in Ruguma cell-Karegyeya, Kinoni parish, Ntungamo district.

“I want to thank them for having given the party leadership by example,” he said.

He also thanked the Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker and other leaders at all levels for their participation.

“This is the beginning of a very successful process,” he stated.

NRM to errant sack registrars

Analysing the problems encountered, Odoi said the main challenges stemmed from apathy, a lack of commitment from election officials, and dishonesty, particularly among some registrars. He vowed that all registrars who altered results in the village elections would be dismissed.

Odoi has tasked all regional coordinators in areas where results were tampered with to submit reports by Monday. All registrars implicated will be removed from their positions.

He urged all district election officers to oversee their staff at the sub-county, parish, and village levels.

“It is not good for someone to be unopposed and go home, and in the morning they call the person that there is competition, yet nominations had been closed,” he stated.

RDCs, MPs cautioned against interference

Odoi thanked RDCs for their role as part of the system and for serving as the President’s ears and eyes, but warned them against interfering in the electoral process.

He reported that in some areas, RDCs overstepped their mandate and said his office will write to the appointing authorities about these cases. He warned that such individuals may not be involved in the upcoming primaries if they fail to change their conduct.

He also advised senior parliamentary leaders who interfered with the process to desist. Without naming names, Odoi said some MPs had disrupted the elections in their areas.

“The nation is peaceful, and the NRM election shouldn’t take the country out of that peace. Election is an event in life, and the country is a long process. Let us not destroy the country simply because you have been in an election,” he added.

Regarding the youth elections, he clarified that the eligible age for the youth league of the party is 18–35 years. For the national council, candidates must be aged 18–29 years.

He called upon residents of western Uganda to update their information in the national register, saying the party is aiming for the highest block vote from the region in the upcoming general elections.