By Aggrey Baba
Former Uganda Media Centre ED, Ofwono Opondo, has blamed the chaos in the NRM on internal disorganization, voter bribery, and a growing culture of rewarding losing candidates.
In a column published in today’s Weekend Vision, Ofwono said the NRM’s recent primary elections were poorly organised and full of malpractice, including intimidation and cheating, warning that the party’s internal problems have become so bad that even weak opposition groups are now laughing at them.
Ofwono said the party’s system of handling complaints, especially the election tribunal and the “losers’ bargain” approach, is doing more harm than good, adding that instead of punishing people who break rules or incite violence, the party is simply calming them down with promises or political favours.
He said many of those who lost in the primaries are not accepting defeat. Instead, they are forming pressure groups, preparing to stand as independents, or threatening to leave the party altogether. According to Opondo, this shows that NRM’s internal leadership has lost control.
He also criticised the NRM electoral commission, especially its head Dr. Tanga Odoi, for failing to properly manage the elections. He pointed out that while the commission has changed its leadership many times, the quality of elections has not improved (showing the real problem is deeper inside the party).
Opondo further warned that the party chairman’s (Yoweri Museveni) habit of being generous to losing candidates is being abused. Instead of learning from their mistakes, these candidates now expect to be rewarded even when they have broken rules.
He said some of the people causing problems are not ordinary supporters but include ministers and senior officials who resist defeat, make threats, and pressure Museveni for positions.
Referring to Uganda’s past political failures under leaders like Idi Amin and Milton Obote, Opondo warned that if NRM doesn’t clean up its internal mess, it could go down the same path.
He also urged the party to take strong action against corrupt election officials and restore integrity to its internal elections. If nothing changes, Ofwono Opondo said, the NRM may lose the respect and support it once had (both from voters and within its own ranks). (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
