NRM says primaries largely peaceful, despite low turnout and 'isolated skirmishes'

KAMPALA - The National Resistance Movement (NRM) says its primaries were peaceful across most parts of the country, with isolated incidents of low voter turnout, tension and violence reported in a few areas.

Addressing journalists on July 17, 2025,  at the NRM electoral commission offices in Kampala city, director of information and publicity at the NRM Secretariat, Emmanuel Dombo, rated the exercise as “90% successful”.

“The voting exercise has been largely calm and peaceful. The Police have done a commendable job and are expected to release a detailed security report in the coming days,” Dombo said.

However, he acknowledged that some areas, including Rukungiri, Sembabule, and parts of western Uganda, experienced heightened tension during the polls.

“We thank the people of Uganda and NRM supporters for conducting the constituency and district woman MP primaries in a generally peaceful manner,” he said.

Dombo explained that election results were moved from polling stations to district tally centres before being transmitted to the commission headquarters.  

He encouraged any candidates with grievances to formally lodge their complaints with the commission.

“I urge the winners to celebrate with humility and respect. They will need the support of their opponents during the upcoming general elections in January 2026,” Dombo said.

The elections were held in over 72,000 villages across Uganda. Reports about a postponement of the polls were dismissed by NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi as false and misleading.

According to the commission’s guidelines, voters were to convene at polling venues by 10:00am for verification. Voting took place from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm using the lining-up method behind candidates’ posters or agents. 

After counting, presiding officers were required to publicly announce the results and issue signed declaration forms to candidate agents.

While polling materials were delivered to most centres on time, some areas experienced delays.

In one incident on Thursday evening, a female candidate appeared at the commission offices to file a complaint, alleging that NRM registers had not been used during voting in her area.

Over 180 arrested

However, reports reaching New Vision Online indicate that over 180 suspects, including at least four soldiers allegedly deployed illegally to disrupt the primaries, were arrested by security agencies across the country yesterday.

As authorities led by the Police and backed by the army moved to contain election-related violence, especially in the 19 hotspot districts, security was heightened.

The soldiers, whose identities remain undisclosed, were reportedly picked up from the districts of Luuka and Buhweju where their superiors had not deployed them.

Police director of operations Frank Mwesigwa confirmed the arrests during a phone interview with New Vision. Without divulging further specifics, Mwesigwa said the soldiers were arrested over unlawful deployment, which he said violated electoral and military conduct regulations.

He said 68 other suspects had been detained in Busoga East alone, which comprises the districts of Bugiri, Iganga, Mayuge, Namayingo, Namutumba and Bugweri.