President Yoweri Museveni has assured disgruntled National Resistance Movement (NRM) members that justice will prevail for those affected by irregularities in the recent party primaries.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the President acknowledged that the elections, though intended to be fair, were marred by "mistakes committed by self-seekers." He cited cases of altered results, bribery, and interference with voter registers as key violations that distorted the electoral process.
"You saw my messages regarding the glorious NRM primaries that were, nevertheless, ‘kutokozibwa’ (polluted) by these mistakes," Museveni stated. "These actions were criminal and against the politics and law of elections."
The President revealed that state agencies, including the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), had already arrested and charged individuals involved in fraud, violence, and bribery. However, he emphasized that the political and legal aspects of the matter still needed resolution.
"What happens to the flagbearers who were fraudulently declared? Why doesn’t Tanga Odoi change and announce the proper results?" Museveni questioned. "Remember, the voting was by lining up during the day, and everybody saw the results. How does anybody change that, other than making oneself a fool?"
He noted that legal experts had advised against allowing NRM Electoral Commission Chairman Tanga Odoi to rectify the errors he allegedly presided over. Instead, a lawyers’ tribunal would handle the grievances, guided by the same evidence used in the criminal investigations.
"Those affected by the mistakes of the mistake-makers should know that their grievances are already being addressed," Museveni assured. "Everything will be rectified. It is just the facts and evidence that will conclude the matter."
Some of the areas where the primary elections were hotly contested include constituencies in Nakaseke, Sembabule, Isingiro, Kiruhura among others.
The statement concluded with his signature and traditional bush war titles: ‘Yoweri K. Museveni, Ssaabalwanyi, Ssemalungu.’
