🔴 UPDATES: NRM primary elections 2025 for MPs

Presented and edited by Joseph Kizza
(Refresh this page to view updates)
____________________

 3:30 PM 

Low voter turnout in Kwania

New Vision's Solomon Okabo reports:

❝Today's NRM party primaries in Kwania constituency registered low voter turnout and delayed arrival of electoral materials.

Although the voting exercise was scheduled to officially commence at 10am with reading of names from the voters register, some polling stations such as Akaidebe village had recorded minimal presence of voters by midday. Similarly, only 10 voters had turned up for voting at Baradu polling station in Atongtidi sub-county by noon, out of 121 registered voters at the polling station. NRM electoral officials arrived late at several stations, further delaying preparations.

The contest for the party flagbearer in Kwania county attracted three candidates: incumbent MP Tony Ayo. Tonny Eron and Patrick Nelson Adupa.
____________________

 3:06 PM 

Ogwang coasting in Ngariam

New Vision's Javier Omagor reports:

❝In Katakwi district's Ngariam county, the preliminary results from today’s primary elections show sports state minister and incumbent area MP Peter Ogwang leading at the polling centres New Vision has visited so far. 

At his home polling station in Oalei village, Aliakamer Parish, Ogwang polled an emphatic 314 votes, while his main rival Dan Mulalu garnered 12 votes. The other candidate, Augustine Otuko, got no vote here.

This pattern is being echoed in several other polling centres across the county, where early vote counts consistently place Ogwang in a commanding position. His supporters have described the early lead as celebratory, hailing the vote as a victory not only for Ogwang, but for the development agenda he has championed over the years.
____________________

 2:41 PM 

Delayed voting, missing names in Fort Portal

New Vision's Jonan Tusingwire reports:

❝Dozens of NRM supporters were turned away from polling stations in Fort Portal City after their names were not seen in the party’s voters register, commonly referred to as the yellow book. This fuelled frustration and confusion among voters, with many accusing local party officials of poor preparation and possible voter suppression.

“I have been an NRM supporter for over 20 years. I voted in the last primaries, but today I was shocked to find my name missing,” said Geoffrey Kahuma, a resident of Kagote B in Fort Portal Central Division. “This is unacceptable, and the party needs to explain how this happened.”

Polling stations in areas such as Rwengoma A1, Jesus Supply and Lorry Park experienced similar challenges, with long lines quickly turning into complaints as officials turned away individuals not listed in the yellow book. Some voters claimed they had verified their names during the display exercise weeks prior, making the omissions all the more baffling.

In addition to missing names, several stations opened late due to the delayed arrival of election materials. By 11am, some areas had not yet started the election exercise, contributing to lower-than-expected turnout and rising tempers among voters. 

____________________

 2:20 PM 

WATCH: 'Why I have withdrawn from race'

Sam Sonko Akol explains (in Luganda) his late withdrawal from the Mawokota North Constituency NRM race.


____________________

 2:14 PM 

WATCH: 'Money exchanged hands'

Hanifa Karadi, who is eyeing the Kawempe North NRM ticket, claims there was voter bribery at some polling stations.


____________________

 1:43 PM 

Amelia Kyambadde's challenger taps out

New Vision's Simon Ssekidde reports:

❝In Mpigi district, Sam Sonko Akol has withdrawn from the Mawokota North Constituency NRM race just before start of polling, citing bias, intimidation and other irregularities.

He has been battling for the party flag against former area MP and minister Amelia Kyambadde (pictured below).

"I have decided to withdraw from the race because of the many irregularities that have marred the whole process, the heavy military presence in all the voting areas and abnormalities in the registers," Akol told reporters at his home in Mbute village, Kammengo sub-county, where he is the current LC3 chairperson.

____________________

 1:30 PM 

Alupo, Okiror taste victory at Oigo Imomwa PS

New Vision's Francis Ocen reports:

❝In the village of Oigo Imomwa in Katakwi district, voting results from Oigo Imomwa polling station in Aketa Parish, Ongongoja sub-county have been announced.

All the 312 voters registered in this village have voted for Vice-President Jessica Alupo, who is the incumbent. Her challengers, Violet Akurut Adome and Angela Anuken, each got no vote at this particular polling station. Cecilia Anyakoit tapped out of the race on the eve of the primaries.

In the Usuk Constituency MP race at the same polling station, incumbent Bosco Okiror garnered 252 votes, defeating Richard Ongorok, who received 58 votes, while Jessica Akwi got no vote here.

The polling station registrar, Moses Otim, officially declared Alupo and Okiror as winners from Oigo Imomwa polling station.
____________________

 1:23 PM 

Late delivery of poll materials in Serere

New Vision's Patrick Odongo reports:

❝In Serere district, voting in Akoroi A Village, at PAG Polling Station in Okido Parish, Kateta sub-county, has been delayed due to the late delivery of key election materials, including declaration forms and polling ropes.

The delay has been confirmed by the village registrar, Richard Amanda, who says officials are still waiting for the missing items. While some voters remain at the polling station hoping the exercise will begin soon, others have expressed frustration and are contemplating returning home to attend to their daily duties.
____________________

 1:20 PM 

WATCH: Where are you?

Polling in Neeta Zone, Central A Division in Kampala...


____________________

 1:05 PM 

There has been ubiquitous security deployment across the country, including in Jinja city, to ensure the primaries are conducted with no major incident. 

____________________

 12:25 PM 

📸  Picture this...

Take note: the winners of today's NRM primary elections will be officially announced at the respective district tallying centres following counting of votes. For now, some camps already know the fate of their candidates.

In Jinja South West Constituency, for instance, Moses Grace Balyeku and co are in early celebrations as they sense victory.

At Kirombe North B polling station in Lira City West Division, the agents of two candidates, Eddy Morris Ogweng and Dr Moses Ogonya, are at the polling station.

In Kampala, NRM officials earlier read the names in the register at St Paul Church polling station in Kyebando.

Meanwhile at the same polling station, a confrontation between voters required the intervention of police officers to prevent it evolving into a frostier situation.

In Yumbe district, NRM district elections officer Morphat Mafu (left) and NRM administrator Rasul Adiga are seen organizing declaration forms ahead of voting.

In Kampala, at Neeta zone polling station, opposite Christ the King, the agents of the candidates stood forlorn as they waited for voters to arrive.

____________________

 12:12 PM 

In Katakwi district in Uganda's east, the reading of names of the members in the NRM register is ongoing in Oigo Imumwa village, where Vice-President Jessica Alupo hails from. There are 312 names in the register, reports Godfrey Ojore.

____________________

 12:05 PM 

In Kampala, NRM voters are taking their positions in the long lines at St. Paul Church polling station in Kyebando as polling gets under way here and across the country.

While the conversations among the waiting voters are expected to revolve around the politics of the day, others are using the opportunity to do business. Food vendors with transparent buckets know some people will desire a drink or two while waiting in the line. Or maybe a greasy vegetable samosa or chapatti.

____________________

 12:00 PM 

 VOTING TIME 

It's midday and you know what that means. Polling time. Voting will be open until 2pm.

____________________

 11:47 AM 

Today's NRM party primary elections are taking place in 72,000 villages across the country. In Arua, New Vision's Robert Adiga has captured the mood at Anyafio West polling station, where Arua Central Division MP Jackson Atima is expected to vote from. For now, the number of voters who have turned up is low on a sweltering Thursday, with the ones present checking for their names in the voters register.

____________________

 11:38 AM 

Who will get the Kawempe North ticket?

New Vision's Simon Peter Tumwine reports:

❝Earlier, Faridah Nambi arrived at Kawempe Mbogo polling station in Kampala, where she will to vote from. Nambi is in the race for the NRM party flag for Kawempe North alongside Hanifa Karachi. The two faced off in March's Kawempe North byelection to replace the late Muhammad Ssegirinya, and both of them went on to lose to Luyimbazi Elias Nalukoola of the National Unity Platform.

____________________

 11:25 AM 

As we approach the much-awaited midday for the start of the NRM primary elections voting,  I should remind you that elections for the position of the district Woman Representative to Parliament shall be held first, followed by Constituency MP.

It will be voters lining behind their preferred candidate. And...no criss-crossing of lines by voters is allowed after counting of votes has started.

____________________

 11:14 AM 

Ngariam is bubbling

New Vision's Javier Silas Omagor reports:

❝As early as 8:00am, voters in Ngariam county in Katakwi district had begun gathering at various polling stations, eager to participate in the NRM party primaries. Unlike the usual routine of attending to gardens before voting, residents such as Suzan Apolot chose to prioritise selecting their next leader.

“It is very important that I take part in choosing the right candidate who will represent Ngariam county in the general election,” she told New Vision.

Across the polling stations, a section of supporters can be seen donning campaign T-shirts, while others carry posters of their respective candidates contesting in the Ngariam county NRM flagbearer race. Motorcycles (boda bodas) and a few vehicles are moving from one polling station to another, deploying candidate agents and delivering final instructions ahead of the exercise.

In the race for the NRM MP flag in Ngariam county are the incumbent and sports state minister Peter Ogwang, Augustine Otuko, and Dan Mulalu.

Meanwhile, the Katakwi district Woman MP NRM flag has attracted a strong contest featuring Vice-President Jessica Alupo, former MP Viola Akurut, former National Council of Sports board member Cecilia Anyakoit, and Angela Anuken.

Voting materials have been delivered to most polling stations, with voters ready to cast their ballots to decide the party’s flagbearers ahead of the 2026 general elections.
____________________

 11:00 AM 

 ONE HOUR TO GO 

Polling will get under way at noon. That's exactly an hour from now.

____________________

 10:56 AM 

Katakwi in election mood

New Vision's Godfrey Ojore reports:

❝It's a cloudy morning in Katakwi district, which is 354km from Kampala city and people are streaming to their polling stations to prepare to line behind the candidates of their choice.

In Katakwi town, police patrol vehicles are seen patrolling. In Oigo Imomwa village, which is 18km away from Katakwi town, voters have gathered under mango trees waiting for the start of polling as they check for their names in the register.

____________________

 10:43 AM 

In Arua, voters eager to vote

New Vision's King BoscoFranco reports:

❝By 10am, the NRM registrar for Abira Aluru cell, Ombaci ward in Ayivu East constituency in Arua city had arrived at the polling station with the NRM register. There are a total of 278 NRM registered voters in Abira Aluru cell. Only those whose names are in the register will be allowed to vote come midday.

____________________

 10:30 AM 

Tororo set for polls

New Vision's George Ofwono reports:

❝As Tororo district goes in for the crucial NRM parliamentary flagbearer elections today, officials have issued stern warnings against favouritism and electoral malpractice. The stakes are high in the race to represent the district's 1,337 villages.

Electoral materials were distributed this morning at Tororo Central Police Station to sub-county registrars by NRM District Registrar Joseph Kadoketch and security officials. 

The distribution team underscored the need for a smooth and transparent process.

____________________

 10:13 AM 

'Criss-crossing not allowed'

According to the election guidelines for today's primaries...

▪️ No official is allowed to start polling before 12pm.
▪️ The presiding officer will ask candidates or their agents to stand in a horizontal line with at least two metres separating each candidate or agent.
▪️ The presiding officer will then ask voters to line up behind candidates of their choice.
▪️ Polling assistants will stand behind each line after all voters have lined behind candidates of their choice.
▪️ Criss-crossing of lines by voters after counting of votes has started is not allowed.
▪️ In the event that a candidate's line is long, the presiding officer will ask voters to make a 'U' line in order to fit in the space available.
▪️ Voting by proxy is not allowed.
▪️ The NRM electoral commission has the power to postpone elections and notify stakeholders of a new date.
____________________

 10:00 AM 

 TWO HOURS TO GO 

Polling will get under way at noon. That's exactly two hours from now.
____________________

 9:57 AM 

A battle for 482 NRM tickets

So here is the thing. Altogether there are 499 parliamentary seats (353 for constituency MPs and 146 for district Woman MPs). Since 17 of these positions have unopposed candidates (already secured the party flag), there will be a total of 482 NRM tickets to be battled for today.

It is also important to remember that winning a party flag does not mean a candidate has secured the parliamentary seat. The winner will next have to battle for the seat against other candidates in next year's general election.

____________________

 9:45 AM 

Ssembabule registrar dropped

New Vision's Dismus Buregyeya reports:

❝The NRM electoral commission has dropped the Ssembabule district NRM registrar, Patrick Ntale, after complaints related to compromise. The party EC has taken charge of the Ssembabule NRM party primaries now under Deborah Arayo, a senior staff at the Kyadondo party EC office.
____________________

 9:30 AM 

NRM goes to the polls

It's polling day as Uganda's ruling political party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), is today (July 17) set to conduct primary elections for all Members of Parliament in all villages across the country. Today's exercise is by universal adult suffrage and will take the form of lining up. The party will choose its parliamentary flagbearers (constituency MPs and district Woman MPs) for the 2026 general election.

So here is how it will work...

▪️ Members will gather at their respective venues by 10am and names read to confirm attendance. This will go up to 11:45am.
▪️ The voting will start at 12pm (noon) and end at 2pm.
▪️ The eligible voters are only the members of NRM in the village who are in the party register.

▪️ Voting will be by lining up behind posters or agents of the candidates.
▪️ The party has made it clear that "voting by proxy is prohibited".
▪️ After counting, the presiding officer at every village will publicly announce the results and issue declaration of results forms duly signed by all agents of candidates.
▪️ The presiding officer will then give a copy of the form to the agents of each candidate.
▪️ Final tallying and announcement of results will be done at the district.

Here, below, is what the voting will look like: