Updated at 1225 EAT on Saturday 24th May 2025

LUBAGA – KAMPALA, UGANDA – A former official of the defunct Uganda National Chamber of Trade and Investment has been accused of illegally facilitating the voter register used in the controversial NRM Entrepreneur League elections in Rubaga Division, where violence erupted following the suspension of the polls.

In a formal petition addressed to Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, aspiring candidates Mr. Henry Lutwama, Mr. Deo Kaggwa, and Mr. Ali Nsubuga alleged that an unidentified official from the deregistered organization played a key role in compiling the voter register. The Uganda National Chamber of Trade and Investment had previously been struck off the national company register and, according to the petitioners, no longer holds legal status.

“This entity no longer holds any legal standing and should not be involved in any official process, especially elections,” Mr. Lutwama stated. Documentation confirming the chamber’s deregistration was attached to the petition.

The candidates further alleged that the voter roll used during the elections was inconsistent with the official NRM register. Numerous individuals reportedly listed to vote were not found in the party’s verified database. In several cases, the identities of voters did not match the names on the roll, raising serious concerns about the credibility of the election process.

Tensions peaked when the presiding election officer, Mr. Francis Bwengye, ordered the cancellation of the polls due to the mounting irregularities. Eyewitnesses reported that members affiliated with the defunct chamber—allegedly led by Nyaika Abdunasir Winyi and Pastor Dorcus Asasiira—reacted violently to the decision.

According to witnesses, the group attempted to intimidate Mr. Bwengye into reversing his decision, but he reportedly stood firm, refusing to compromise the integrity of the election.

The petition has also been submitted to the NRM District Registrar for Lubaga District, with the candidates urging immediate intervention from the party leadership.

This incident has exposed significant flaws in the local electoral process and raised broader concerns about the infiltration of unregistered groups into party structures, as well as the growing threat of political intimidation.

As investigations continue, the NRM is under increasing pressure to restore credibility to its internal electoral processes and to ensure that future elections are conducted in a transparent and lawful manner.