In a bombshell announcement that has shaken the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) conference, Captain Mike Mukula has not only withdrawn from the race for Vice Chairperson of the Eastern Region but has launched a scathing attack on the party’s internal electoral process, alleging rampant corruption and voter bribery.
His withdrawal, announced through a powerful and detailed statement on Thursday, transitions from a mere political development into a significant act of protest that challenges the NRM’s internal democratic integrity.
Citing “grossly compromised” and “marred” processes, Capt. Mukula stated his decision was “difficult but principled.” He directly accused the campaign of being corrupted by “widespread corruption, open voter bribery, and the reckless expenditure of huge sums of money to influence delegates.”
“Such practices undermine the very spirit, values, and historical mission upon which the NRM was founded,” Mukula declared. “They erode the moral fabric of our Movement and threaten to delegitimize our internal democratic processes.”
The Soroti City East MP framed his withdrawal not as an admission of defeat, but as a stand for integrity. “To participate under such circumstances would be to legitimize an illegality,” he stated, adding that he chooses “principle over expediency, conscience over convenience, and integrity over position.”
In a move that will send shockwaves through the party’s top leadership, Mukula directly called upon the NRM Chairman, the Central Executive Committee (CEC), and the Party’s Electoral Commission to urgently address what he termed “these vices.” He demanded “corrective measures” and reforms “to safeguard our internal democracy, restore integrity, and inspire confidence.”
Despite his severe criticisms of the electoral process, Mukula reaffirmed his loyalty to the NRM and its chairman, President Yoweri Museveni. “I remain steadfast in my commitment to the NRM… and to the continued transformation of Eastern Uganda and the nation at large,” he concluded.
The statement presents a major public relations challenge for the ruling party, forcing it to confront allegations of deep-seated corruption within its own ranks from a respected senior member. As the conference continues, all eyes will be on the party leadership to see if they respond to Mukula’s damning indictment.
