By URN
Former Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has raised serious concerns over intimidation, fake delegates, and electoral irregularities ahead of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Female Vice Chairperson election.
Kadaga told delegates at Kololo Ceremonial grounds on Wednesday afternoon, “There are members here who have got messages on their phones, intimidating them. If you don’t vote for so and so, you will see. How can that be? But this is what is happening at this stage.”
Kadaga alleged that her opponent engaged in widespread bribery, intimidation, and abuse of office during the delegate elections. She claimed that delegates were enticed with gifts such as iPads, mobile phones, and cash handouts of Shs 300,000 from locations including Nakawa, Nabisunsa, and Kisaasi.
She urged delegates to reject these inducements and vote based on merit, noting that the funds used for bribery came from taxpayers. Kadaga also raised concerns over fake delegate lists and deliberate delays in the voting process, which she said were intended to facilitate rigging.
She urged party leaders to take action, adding, “I do hope that something will be done… in some instances, there have been deliberate delays, so that voting takes place in the night. How can voting take place at 4 a.m.?”
She also warned of manipulated registers and fake delegates. “There are many fake delegates. Names have been substituted. There are also fake registers in circulation. This is a matter I raised several times in the central election committee, which needed addressing,” Kadaga said.
Kadaga concluded her address by appealing for support from party members: “I want to ask you for your support so that I can continue serving you as your second national race care person. Thank you so much.”
Her rival, incumbent Speaker Annet Anita Among, focused on her record of mobilization and inclusivity.
“I want to add value to the party. And by adding value to the party, I am seeking to be a certain national vice chairperson of NRM. And when I am a certain national vice chairperson, I am a very good mobiliser,” Among said.
Among also called for stronger involvement of local government structures and support for vulnerable groups. “We have had challenges with people with PWDs, with the AJs, with the veterans. I also request, as a second member, that we have allowances and some jobs for people with disabilities, people who are veterans, and people who are old,” she said.
Despite efforts to encourage a unified candidate, both leaders remain in the race, setting the stage for a tense vote that will shape the NRM Female Vice Chairperson position.
