By Kazibwe Jamil | Political Analyst
As many of us anticipated, the NRM primaries have already exposed the deep cracks within the party, long before the first ballot is cast. From where I stand, this is no longer a question of speculation—it is a glaring reality.
What was supposed to be an organized internal election to demonstrate party discipline has instead descended into chaotic, acrimonious contests across the country. In typical NRM fashion, there has been more noise in Kampala for the cameras than serious preparations on the ground.
Dr. Tanga Odoi and his Electoral Commission seem more invested in the showbiz of nominations at Plot 10 than in the real task ahead: delivering a credible primary election. Across the countryside, where the real NRM votes reside, reports of chaos, intimidation, bribery, and partisan electoral officers are everywhere.
Even more alarming, as I write this, the key materials—registers and Declaration of Results Forms—are reportedly still stuck in Kampala. How does Tanga Odoi expect these documents to reach over 72,000 villages in time? This question, it seems, has only just dawned on him.
Faced with a logistical disaster of his own making, Tanga Odoi is now said to be scrambling to lobby President Museveni to postpone the primaries. If true, this alone tells you the NRM is woefully unprepared.
But postponement or not, the writing is on the wall. These primaries will be chaotic. Lives could be lost. Tempers are already boiling. Some candidates have reportedly prepared to declare themselves winners by force, whether ballots are counted or not.
The reality is simple: the NRM Electoral Commission is overwhelmed. It lacks the capacity, neutrality, and readiness to manage an internal exercise of this scale without controversy. We have seen this before. Favouritism for moneyed candidates, partisan presiding officers, and violence are now the NRM norm, not the exception.
What is unfolding is not just an election but a test of whether the NRM can still manage itself without fragmenting beyond repair. Unfortunately, the signs suggest the opposite.
If the NRM cannot manage an internal primary with discipline and credibility, how does it hope to convince Ugandans it deserves another term of national leadership?
Come Thursday, this divided party risks exposing itself for what it has become: chaotic, fractured, and increasingly disconnected from the organizational principles that once held it together.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swift Daily News as an entity or its employees or partners.
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