Senior Reporter
Leaders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party in Kabale District have urged for a thorough investigation into Party registrars to prevent fraud and vote rigging ahead of the Primary elections.
At a party meeting held on Saturday and chaired by David Bahati, Minister of State for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, at Kabale National Teachers College, concerns were raised over the integrity of the registration process in the party’s yellow book. They cited past instances of fraudulent activities by registrars during Party elections, leading to members losing seats and defecting to the Opposition, resulting in significant losses for the party in the 2021 general elections.
The leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s previous response to fraudulent registrars and feared a repeat of such acts in the upcoming party elections.
Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha, the NRM Flag bearer for Kabale Municipality and Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Kakawa in Kampala, recounted a troubling incident where he had to confront the former Kabale NRM Registrar at Kabale Rukiiko hall to uphold his victory in past NRM elections. Kamugisha warned registrars against allowing themselves to be manipulated to disrupt the NRM party.
Minister Bahati condemned these fraudulent acts and issued a stern warning to registrars, stating that anyone caught engaging in fraudulent activities would face severe penalties, including up to seven years imprisonment as stipulated by the law.
He urged leaders to take proactive measures, encouraging them to report corrupt registrars with evidence to ensure that justice is served, rather than remaining silent.
