74 Year Old Minister Accused of Ferrying Students to Vote in Ruhinda County NRM Primaries

Controversy erupted in Ruhinda County after a 74-year-old minister was accused of ferrying students from various schools to participate in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries.

Allegations surfaced following the circulation of photos and videos showing the minister queuing at Rubangizi playground, surrounded by scores of students visibly dressed in school uniforms.

The incident sparked outrage among rival candidates and election observers, who condemned the act as electoral malpractice and a violation of party guidelines.

Witnesses at the polling station claimed that buses and vans delivered the students early in the morning, with some being instructed on how to vote before joining the queue.

“It was shocking to see young schoolchildren being used this way,” said one concerned resident. “This is not just illegal it’s morally wrong and undermines the credibility of the elections.”

The NRM Electoral Commission and district election officials have yet to issue a formal statement, but the matter has attracted attention from party leaders and civil society organisations, who are demanding an investigation into the alleged voter fraud.

Opposition candidates in the race have called for the results at Rubangizi playground to be nullified and have petitioned the district registrar to take action. “If this kind of behaviour is tolerated, it sends the wrong message about democracy and accountability within the NRM,” said one of the contestants.

Police have confirmed that they are reviewing video footage and interviewing witnesses to determine whether any laws were broken and whether the students were legally eligible to vote.

As the investigation unfolds, pressure is mounting on the party to act swiftly and transparently to ensure fairness in the primaries, especially in hotly contested areas like Ruhinda County