KAMPALA – The Kololo Independence Grounds descended into chaos on Tuesday as a planned election for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Entrepreneurs League was abruptly suspended, sparking angry protests from disgruntled delegates who confronted the party’s top electoral official.
The scene, more reminiscent of a wrestling ring than a political event, unfolded after the party’s Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, delivered the news that the highly anticipated elections would not proceed. The decision followed a direct directive from the party’s National Chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Directive From The Top
According to officials, the suspension was implemented on Monday after President Museveni received intelligence reports from the Internal Security Organisation (ISO). These reports detailed serious allegations of widespread voter bribery and other electoral irregularities that threatened to undermine the credibility of the process.
The Entrepreneurs League is a critical body within the NRM structure, designed to rally business owners and entrepreneurs behind the party’s agenda. The elections were intended to select its leadership, a position of significant influence.
Delegates Turn Hostile
The announcement of the suspension did not sit well with hundreds of delegates who had gathered at Kololo, eagerly awaiting the polls. The situation quickly turned volatile as frustrated delegates surrounded Dr. Odoi, demanding answers and insisting that the elections must proceed as scheduled that evening.
Chants and shouts filled the air as the party officials attempted to calm the agitated crowd. The protest highlighted deep-seated frustrations within the party’s rank and file, particularly among its business-minded members who view the league as a vital platform for engagement and patronage.
A Pattern of Disruption
This incident is not isolated. It echoes previous internal NRM electoral exercises that have been marred by accusations of malpractice, vote-buying, and violence, often leading to last-minute cancellations or contested outcomes. The direct intervention by the President based on security intelligence underscores the severity of the allegations and the party’s ongoing struggle to manage internal democratic processes.
Dr. Odoi, facing the ire of the protesters, appealed for calm and assured them that the party was committed to a free and fair election. He emphasized that the suspension was a necessary measure to preserve the integrity of the vote and that a new date would be communicated after a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities.
What Happens Next?
The suspension leaves the leadership of the influential NRM Entrepreneurs League in limbo. The party’s electoral commission now faces the daunting task of investigating the ISO’s findings, restructuring the electoral process, and finding a way to satisfy delegates who feel their democratic right has been denied.
The event at Kololo serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Uganda’s ruling party as it attempts to balance competing interests and maintain order within its own structures, all under the watchful eye of a leadership that demands absolute control.
