President Yoweri Museveni has vowed to nullify the candidacies of individuals who fraudulently secured National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flags during the recent primaries, describing the internal electoral process as “polluted” by criminal interference.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, Museveni reassured both party members and the Ugandan public that widespread irregularities reported during the primaries are being investigated, with culprits facing removal and possible prosecution.
“What happens to the flagbearers who were fraudulently declared?” Museveni asked. “Everything will be rectified. It is just the facts and evidence that will conclude the matter.”
The President accused unnamed “self-seekers” of tampering with the party’s democratic processes through acts such as vote rigging, bribery, and manipulation of voter registers.
“The glorious NRM primaries were nevertheless kutokozibwa (polluted) by mistakes committed by self-seekers,” Museveni said. “These actions were criminal and also distorted both the politics and the law of elections.”
According to Museveni, government intelligence and security agencies, including the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), have already arrested and charged several individuals involved in electoral malpractice.
He also dismissed any role for NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi in correcting the flawed results, suggesting that his involvement in the irregularities disqualifies him from overseeing a fair review process.
“Our lawyers have advised that Tanga Odoi cannot be the one who corrects a mistake that he made,” the President stated. “It is the lawyers’ committee—the Tribunal—that will deal with politics and the law.”
Museveni emphasized that the Tribunal will base its decisions on evidence gathered by law enforcement, promising a rigorous review of contested primary outcomes.
In a direct appeal to aggrieved party members, Museveni pledged that their concerns would be addressed and that no one would be allowed to benefit from rigging.
“Those affected by the mistakes of the mistake-makers should know that their grievances are already being addressed,” he affirmed. “Everything will be rectified.”
The President’s statement comes amid growing discontent within NRM ranks, with multiple candidates and their supporters calling for a review of results in various constituencies ahead of the 2026 general elections.
