NRM warns against misconduct, says top organ aspirants face disqualification over hiding delegates

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has sternly warned candidates against misconduct, particularly the hiding of delegates expected to take part in its central executive committee (CEC) elections.

The party's director for communication and publicity, Emmanuel Dombo, issued the warning during a media briefing on August 18, 2025, following growing concerns of irregularities in the build-up to the highly anticipated elections, scheduled for August 27 and 28, at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.

"We have heard complaints from various CEC candidates vying for different positions that some individuals are hiding delegates to prevent their rivals from accessing them," Dombo said while addressing journalists at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

During a meeting last week at the NRM electoral commission offices, the candidates were warned against hiding delegates in ungazetted places for purposes of denying other candidates from having access to the same delegates during their consultations ahead of the party conference.

Dombo emphasised that any candidate found involved in such acts would face immediate disqualification.

"Once evidence becomes available that one of the candidates has been hiding delegates, he or she will be disqualified from the race," he warned.

The warning follows a formal petition submitted to President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as the party chairperson, by several candidates contesting for the position of national chairperson of the NRM Entrepreneurs League.

The petitioners, including Philip Kakuru, King Ceasor Mulenga, Mukesh Shukla, Sanjay Tanna, and Kalim Kalamagi, accused a fellow candidate of covertly relocating delegates to neighbouring countries.

According to Kakuru, more than 200 NRM delegates were allegedly transported to Kenya and Tanzania last week, significantly hampering other candidates’ efforts to engage with them during the consultation period.

During a campaign meeting on Sunday, August 17, in Mbale city, Mulenga addressed delegates from several Eastern Uganda districts, including Mbale, Namutumba, Kapelebyong, and Buyende.

At the event, several attendees alleged that one of the candidates was behind the cross-border movement of delegates.