The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has issued a stern caution to village and sub-county registrars in Luweero regarding the acceptance of bribes and political influence during the upcoming party register update. This exercise is set to commence from Wednesday, March 13th, to Sunday, March 17th, 2024, nationwide.
Preparations for the update exercise, including the distribution of materials such as the yellow books, have been completed in Luwero district. Ronald Ndawula, the Luwero District NRM chairperson, oversaw the handover of materials to 18 sub-county registrars on Monday following the completion of their training.
Today, 624 NRM Village registrars are slated to receive materials and undergo training before the commencement of the exercise tomorrow. David Kamugisha, the Luwero District NRM Registrar, has affirmed the district’s readiness for the exercise. However, he has also cautioned registrars against succumbing to bribes or aligning with political interests, emphasizing the importance of adhering to party guidelines during the register update.
Kamugisha highlighted the potential for politicians to manipulate registrars into registering individuals from outside their areas or non-members into the NRM register. Such actions could be aimed at influencing specific candidates in primaries or potentially misusing party cards in the future. He stressed the significance of registrars following the guidelines set forth by the National Party Chairman, Yoweri Museveni, during the update process.
Ronald Ndawula echoed Kamugisha’s sentiments, emphasizing the risks associated with a flawed register, including vote rigging and conflicts. He stressed the need for vigilance among registrars during the update process.
In discussions with LC 1 Chairmen, Doreen Eyoku, the Kikyusa town council registrar, highlighted their commitment to conducting a transparent exercise. They aim to prevent irregularities by ensuring that any new member registered within a specific village adheres strictly to proper procedures.
Daudi Migereko, the Greater Luwero Zonal Coordinator for the Update Exercise, emphasized the importance of supporters ensuring their names are accurately captured in the register as per their National IDs. This precautionary measure aims to avoid conflicts during grassroots elections or primaries.
NRM leaders in Luwero expressed optimism that a well-conducted exercise would revitalize the party’s presence in the area following their defeat in the 2021 elections. In the previous general elections, President Yoweri Museveni experienced a notable decline in popularity in the district, securing only 41,166 votes (27.94%), while his rival NUP Presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, garnered 103,782 votes (70.45%).
