NRM Elections leave party fractured in Lango

The recent grassroots elections of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have left deep divisions across the Lango sub-region, following widespread allegations of manipulation, exclusion, and favouritism.

The internal polls, intended to revitalize party structures from the village to district levels, have instead heightened tensions and sparked fears of defections ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Several senior party members were reportedly removed from the party register, deepening mistrust within the ranks.

The controversy was especially pronounced across Lira, Amolatar, Oyam, Dokolo, Alebtong, and Apac districts, where local party operatives accused the electoral body of bias and poor management.

In Lira District, the atmosphere has been particularly charged. Political veterans, including former Minister Sam Engola, have been locked in a fierce contest to retain their influence, challenged by the incumbent Woman Member of Parliament for Lira District, Linda Agnes Auma.

The election for the NRM district chairperson, a critical role for party mobilisation and grassroots coordination, has been suspended twice amid disputes, fuelling anger and confusion among contestants and delegates.

On Tuesday, supporters of Engola protested taking part in the party election, accusing the party's electoral commission of favouritism.

Engola, who is seeking to retain his position, criticised the decision allowing Auma and her supporters to appear at the polling stations wearing the party’s signature yellow uniforms, a move perceived as giving her an unfair advantage.

“We agreed in the meeting. And you repeated three times that whosoever comes here should not wear yellow. That’s why I’m not wearing yellow. And it is on record. We cannot go voting when you are saying that the NRM is going to be divided later here,” says Engola.

“Therefore, we as NRM don't want division. We are not going to accept any election. We will walk out,” Engola told the party election officer, Zirwaru Zaitun, during a flopped election on Tuesday.

He cast doubts on the fairness of the elections and the exclusion of some of his supporters from accessing the venue.

“I know that the election is not fair. If you want, give us time. I also want to buy clothes for these people here if it’s a competition. I already have eight people of mine who are locked outside there. They can prove by you calling them and seeing that they have not voted. They are at the gate. Those who came from Aromo, those who came from Ogur, they are outside,” says Engola.

Despite attempts to reconcile Engola and Auma, both insist they are better options to steer the party in the district.

Auma said, “I will not step down. Sam has shown a very hardened heart. Several attempts have been made to reconcile us, but it has yielded nothing. To those being misled into thinking that running against Sam will cost me votes, I have won elections before without his support.”

Zirwaru Zaitun, NRM Election Officer in Charge of Lango, confirmed the suspension. She said the party secretariat in Kampala would determine the next course of action.

“We are compiling reports from the affected areas and submitting them to the party secretariat. It is the secretariat that will decide on the fate of elections in Lira District,” Zaitun said.

In Amolatar District, the election for the party district chairperson was also suspended for the second time following disagreements and allegations of malpractices. The incumbent chairperson, James Olobo, is facing aspirants including Camilo Olwit and Leo Ocen.

In Lira City, the fallout has deepened. Some NRM members have since crossed to opposition parties, citing frustration with internal election mismanagement. Among them is Sarah Awor Angweri, who recently declared her defection to the National Unity Platform (NUP).

She was seen on Monday alongside NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, during a radio talk show on Voice of Lango FM, where she criticised the NRM for what she termed “a culture of impunity and exclusion.”

Awor is among the party members, including former district party treasurer Geoffrey Etwop, whose names were deleted from the party register before the party village elections.

Lira City East NRM Administrative Secretary, Walter Abura, said the grassroots leaders raised questions about their loyalty to the ruling party, disqualifying them as NRM members.

"Etwop was recently reviewed and disqualified at the village level due to inconsistencies with his party membership. We received petitions from the respective villages stating that they are not fully committed to the party's ideals. They have been seen publicly supporting opposition, and petitions have been forwarded to the centre," he said