By Diana Kintu
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended National Resistance Movement (NRM) members for their participation in the party’s primaries held on July 17, 2025, while strongly condemning reported cases of electoral misconduct. The President’s message was posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account and shared through NRM party channels.
In his statement directed to NRM members, especially the Bazzukulu (grandchildren), the President revealed: “Our sources confirm that 9.22 million party members participated in the primaries, representing about 50% of our total membership of 18.5 million confirmed on May 6, 2025.” He described this mid-week turnout as satisfactory, noting the challenges of mobilising voters on a working day.
However, the President expressed grave concern over reported irregularities, stating: “I must condemn, in the strongest terms, what I started hearing in some areas where some unpatriotic actors are alleged to have committed mistakes, including: altering results, tampering with registers, using violence that caused deaths and injuries, and bribing voters.”
The President emphasised that such actions undermine the NRM’s democratic principles and announced that those responsible would face prosecution, beginning with individuals who altered election results.
The President reiterated the core purpose of leadership elections, explaining that leaders are chosen to “kukyenuura” (solve the solvable problems) for the wanainchi (citizens). He distinguished between omukyeno (solvable problems) and obuhaangwa (natural circumstances), stressing that good leadership should focus on addressing challenges that can be resolved through proper intervention.
To illustrate the NRM’s problem-solving approach, the President highlighted several achievements: improved security under the 10-point program, successful immunisation campaigns that eliminated diseases like polio and measles, economic liberalisation that ended shortages of essential goods, and the Parish Development Model (PDM) that is transforming household incomes.
The message concluded with a call for political maturity, urging NRM members to reject violence and electoral malpractice while remaining focused on the party’s development agenda.