12 unopposed in Masindi NRM primaries

________________

Masindi

Twelve of the 88 candidates nominated to contest for different positions, both at the municipality and Masindi district, in the National Resistance Movement party primaries ahead of the general election next year.

The majority of the unopposed people are at the councillors' level. However, two have been disqualified for failing to follow guidelines, but we're devising means of replacing them because one of them was unopposed," NRM registrar Moses Ogwang told New Vision Online on July 2, 2025.

The joint campaigns' question

Candidates vying for Member of Parliament, LC5 chairperson and the mayor for Masindi municipality have disagreed over having joint campaigns, arguing this is going to limit them from interacting with their voters.

The candidates disagreed during the meeting convened by the Masindi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Darius Nandinda and Ogwang at the RDC's office to issue guidelines to be followed during the campaigning exercise.

The meeting was attended by the security committee members from Masindi district and also from the regional level.

Some of the candidates questioned whether the NRM Secretariat was ready to provide the required logistics, like the public address system and security.

Ogwang said he had received the guidelines but had not received any logistics to run the joint campaigns. He said, though logistics had not been realised, the candidates had to agree on the roadmap.

It was only the candidates for Bujenje county and the candidates for LC5 chairperson who sat and agreed to make a road map for the joint campaign.

But the candidates for Buruli county and Woman MP disappeared unceremoniously before making the road map for the joint campaign, arguing that they had limited time.



Kabakumba Labwoni Masiko, who is vying for the Masindi Woman MP seat, said joint campaigns are paramount since they bring together all the candidates and they're able to clear up all that's not right.

"I believe in joint campaigns because they allow the electorate to understand the capability of the candidates, but they may be practically impossible due to the little time left to the elections.

NRM parliamentary primaries will be on July 16, while the LC5 chairpersons and the mayors will be on July 24.

Julia Bintu Lukumu, who is also vying for the Woman MP seat said joint campaigns are impossible since they've little time to the voting day.

"I don't want us to deceive ourselves that we can have joint campaigns when there are no resources. If by now the district registrar hasn't got the logistics, how possible can this be?" Bintu said.

Bintu added that candidates should be left to move individually, provided the guidelines are followed as stipulated by the NRM electoral commission Chairperson.

Stephen Kabindi, who is vying for Buruli County MP flag, said joint campaigns would have been good if enough time had been given to the candidates.

Grace Bukirwa, who is contesting for Bujenje County MP seat, said they agreed to go for joint campaigns, as it is hard for one to smear a rival in their presence.

Masindi LC5 chairperson Cosmas Byaruhanga, who is contesting for Bujenje County MP flag, said he is already for joint campaigns saying they're good and he was ready for them.

Ogwang said candidates have to follow the guidelines for joint campaigns as they have been stipulated.