Lango voters urged on respect for electoral procedures

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As the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) today, July 17, 2025, holds its party primaries, region Police have issued a strong appeal for calm, discipline and respect for electoral procedures to ensure a peaceful voting process.

The NRM party primaries, scheduled for Thursday, 17th July 2025, are a key internal electoral exercise to select flag bearers for Parliamentary, District Chairperson (LC5), Mayoral, and other key positions ahead of the 2026 general elections. The process is often highly competitive, especially in NRM strongholds such as the Lango sub-region, and has in the past witnessed isolated cases of violence and malpractice.

Addressing the media on July 16, North Kyoga Police region spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema said the joint campaign period was concluded successfully across the region without major incident.

“As we now head into the voting phase, we call upon all candidates agents, and supporters to uphold the spirit of peaceful participation and abide by the following guidelines,” Okema stated.

What to do

• Respect the electoral process as outlined by the NRM Electoral Commission and the national Electoral Commission.
  
  
• Exercise your right to vote peacefully and responsibly.
  
  
• Show mutual respect to all participants, regardless of political affiliation.
  
  
• Promptly report any suspicious behaviour or individuals intending to disrupt the process to the nearest police unit.

What to avoid

• Do not spread misinformation or unverified content that could cause panic or confusion.
  
  
• Avoid hate speech, and refrain from using tribal, religious, or divisive language.
  
  
• Do not intimidate voters or deploy ‘goons’ or bouncers to influence the process.
  
  
• Refrain from bribery, corruption, and inflammatory statements.

Security measures:

Okema affirmed that security agencies are fully prepared to manage the election environment. Operational orders have been issued to guide personnel, and deployment plans are in place.

Police will work in collaboration with:

• Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF)
  
  
• Uganda Prisons Service (UPS)
  
  
• Intelligence services

In addition, a Quick Response Team (QRT) is on standby to respond swiftly to any emergencies or disruptions.

Final Appeal:

Police have urged all stakeholders to:

• Remain calm and patient during the voting and tallying process
  
  
• Adhere to all electoral laws and guidelines
  
  
• Wait peacefully for the official results
  
  
• Seek assistance from authorised security and electoral officials in case of challenges
  
  
• “Let us make this electoral exercise a model of democracy, peace, and discipline. Together, we can uphold the values of our party and our nation,” Okema concluded.