Opinion: Dr. Tanga Odoi And His Registrars Are Sinking Party Democracy

By Phillip R. Ongadia 

Today marks exactly one week since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) went to the polls to elect flag bearers for parliamentary positions across various constituencies and districts. What was expected to be a celebration of internal democracy instead unfolded into a chaotic and disheartening exercise, marred by widespread irregularities, as reported across mainstream and social media platforms.

From Kamuli to Bugweri, Mayuge to Namutumba, and as far as Rwampara, Hoima, Serere, Sironko, and Kamwenge, registrars were reportedly arrested for engaging in electoral malpractice. The scale of manipulation revealed a painful truth: that the very custodians of the party’s democratic process had become instruments of its undoing.

It is disheartening that a mass party like NRM, which prides itself on discipline and patriotism, would fall short of fielding competent and incorruptible election officers. These registrars, entrusted with upholding the will of the people, succumbed to pressure, bribes, and manipulation from self-seeking politicians who, having neglected their constituents for years, now attempted to buy their way back into favor.

The case of Mr. Mwanje Richard from Namutumba stands out as an unfortunate emblem of this incompetence. His performance before the electoral tribunal was not only lackluster but outright embarrassing. It raised serious doubts about the vetting process used to deploy such individuals. On a normal occasion, Mr. Mwanje cannot credibly preside over a primary school election, how on this earth can one expect him to manage a political exercise of national importance?

Dr. Tanga Odoi, as head of the NRM Electoral Commission, bears ultimate responsibility. He was expected to recruit and deploy seasoned, professional, and loyal cadres capable of delivering credible results. Unfortunately, the conduct of some of his registrars has left the party exposed to public ridicule and internal disunity.

To be clear, not all was lost. Many registrars and officers conducted themselves with integrity and honor, and they must be commended. However, the actions of a corrupt few have cast a dark shadow over the entire process. Their betrayal doesn’t just undermine the party’s credibility, it betrays the millions of NRM members who participated in good faith.

This electoral mismanagement discourages party loyalists and grassroots supporters who sacrifice their time and resources to participate in the democratic process. As the saying goes, “When the shepherd misleads, the flock is scattered.” Such acts foster resentment and disillusionment, particularly among those who had pinned their hopes on a fair process.

Let’s face a bitter but necessary truth: some incumbent MPs and ministers deserved to be voted out. They abandoned their roles as public servants and instead became tourists, living lavishly in Kampala and globetrotting at the taxpayers’ expense. Their failure to deliver on promises justifies the electorate’s anger. But even worse is the fact that a few deserving and hardworking leaders were robbed of victory by registrars who accepted envelopes under the table or followed dubious directives from powerful patrons.

This betrayal is giving birth to a dangerous trend: a surge in independent candidates who feel alienated and cheated by the party they once served. It’s no secret that such disunity will likely weaken NRM’s performance in the upcoming general elections.

That is why I extend my deepest appreciation to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for acknowledging these irregularities and calling for order. I respectfully urge that those found culpable registrars like Mr. Mwanje, be thoroughly investigated and barred from participating in any future party activities. Justice must not only be done but seen to be done, if confidence in the party’s electoral systems is to be restored.

Swift and decisive action will not only clean house but also send a strong signal to the national electoral commission. Let this be a mirror for them as well, highlighting the dangers of electoral loopholes and the long-term damage they cause to democratic systems.

As a party that has steered Uganda for over four decades, NRM must lead by example. Internal democracy is not an abstract concept, it is the very foundation on which legitimacy and unity stand. If we cannot manage our own elections, we will lose the moral authority to demand fairness in national ones.

Therefore, I call upon the party’s Electoral Tribunal to rigorously examine all petitions, give a fair hearing to complainants and defendants, and deliver justice without fear or favor. This will not only pacify aggrieved members but also restore trust in the system.

As we reflect on our journey, we must remember why Jajja Museveni and his colleagues took up arms in the 1980s, to restore dignity, democracy, and sanity to our nation. Let us not betray that noble legacy.

To Dr. Tanga and your team: leadership is a responsibility, not a show. You may have disappointed many, but there’s still time to correct course. Let the fraudsters and their disciples rise to the occasion and right the wrongs committed. Uganda’s democratic future, and the NRM’s continued dominance depends on it.

We still stand for Pan-Africanism, Patriotism, Socio-Economic Transformation, and Democracy. May these values never be lost in the storm of self-interest and incompetence.

Long live President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa, long live the National Resistance Movement.

For God and My Country.

The writer is Phillip R. Ongadia – NRM Mobilizer, NRM Publicity Secretary Church Cell –Walukuba East and PRO Jinja social Media Team.