Opinion: The NRM CEC needs some self reflection

Today the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) delivered their verdict after becoming second and losing the Kawempe North By-Election. The striking matter is that the NRM acts like its an outside force and not the government itself. As they expect the Electoral Commission to investigate and audit the election. That’s really telling, as we haven’t seen how the state operated and acting during the whole proceedings.

The NRM should sit this one out. They already used all the tricks of the book. They used the whole state machinery and was prepared to rig the election. They just waited for the thumbs up and make it happen. There was every bits and pieces in action for one purpose only. So, it is rich that the call the EC out and wants this now.

The NRM rejects the results too and also says it will legally challenge it. If it does all of this… do they want the courts to see the videos, pictures and the altered return forms? What do they want to provide of evidence? What stories doest the NRM want to tell?

Do the NRM wants the stories of the NUP activists arrested, the double arrests of the NUP candidate and use of JATT to stop the NUP from properly campaigning? Do the NRM wants the courts to look into the soldiers, special forces command and the soldiers intimidating during the polls?

What does the NRM wants to prove? That they didn’t block Pearl FM from providing proof of the rigging for the NRM. Do the NRM wants the proof of how they tried to make the Kawempe North into a war-zone and harassed the media into darkness. So, that the polling agents and others was left without media having oversight of the activity during the polls. What sort of evidence does the NRM wants to provide courts?

Nothing that happened was in favour of the opposition or the NUP. If the blood, torture, arrests, detained civilians and use of NRM or state operatives for self-serving interests. These was all parts in the play and we know about it. The state even used cars without registration plates and such too. There was nothing this state didn’t do to outsmart and outwit their own electorate. Still, they voted in defiance and in protest of state itself.

The NRM CEC don’t want this all portrayed in the courts. What is there to gain and what does the NRM win? They have already caused the pain, plights and suffering… just over a seat and a ballot. Still, they couldn’t cause enough harm and damage to stop the people from standing up for themselves. That’s just what should worry the state and the NRM itself.

If there are any characters left with some sort of clear mind in the NRM CEC. They would reflect on the matter and reasons for the fall in the Kawempe North By-Election. There are so many reasons for why they lost. There is not only the knowledge of the historical pattern of voters voting for opposition. Secondly, why would the people, trust the party who orders soldiers to streets to beat them up? Seriously, it is such an easy argument and everyone can digest that.

Nevertheless, that is just to deep and to hard for the NRM to comprehend. Maybe their delusion and lack of realism is hitting in. They are just living in their own bubble and cannot understand the real sentiment out there. That’s why they think gun-slinging on unarmed civilian is the righteous act to get their will done. This is what we are seeing and hearing. It is infuriating and insulting the people who are just trying to live life. Peace.

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Kawempe North By-Election: The three unfortunate losers

Today the final result of the Kawempe North By-Election is here. We know the National Resistance Movement (NRM) lost this one, but that was expected. The National Unity Platform (NUP) was estimated to reclaim this seat. So, the victory in itself isn’t a shock or the public sentiment of protesting the government by, yet again putting their trust in a NUP Member of Parliament.

The others who should feel the pain here is Sadat Mukiibi aka Khalif AgaNaga who ran as the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flagbearer only 239 votes. The others are independent candidates who is NUP leaning. That being Muhammed Lussuwa Luwemba who got 240 votes and Moses Nsereko who got 32 votes.

It is just showing how they struggled in this campaign. We could have discussed the Democratic Party (DP) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) who also fielded flagbearers that went nowhere. That’s why there is no need to address it. Just like the fallen out of grace NRM leaning flagbearer who didn’t do well either.

The three ones that needs to reflect on themselves are the FDC and NUP leaning candidates. These are the ones who supposed to make an impact. They were supposed to get the voters galvanized and be a better viable than the assessed and the one who was vouched for by the NUP.

The ones that who tried to be nominated and become the NUP flagbearer. They still rebelled and ran on their own. These two are the biggest losers. Those two has already gone against the grain and tried to sway voters away from that party. Their candidacy could easily have destroyed and taken away the NUP momentum. Nevertheless, that wasn’t even that trustworthy.

We know that people have tried to use the association to the deceased family and the direct connection to the late Muhammed Ssegirinya MP. The former Personal Assistant Lussuwa Luwemba tried that. The NRM even pushed one of the kids of the late on the final day of campaigning. The former P.A. changed religion, did a publicity stunt at the gravesite and also has tried to prolong the legacy of Mr. Update. Still, it went badly for him.

Moses Nsereko went the whole mile and tried to act like his was the next big thing. Even a mockery attempts on first nomination day with the wheelbarrow. The whole charade fell flat, and he needed to return the next day with the right documentation. He went on a public debate claiming to be the most significant guy there. The same man that collapsed when he wasn’t announced as the NUP flagbearer back in February.

The third loser is the musician that ran his campaign with the FDC. A man who has just a hot minute ago been singing songs for His Excellency. That man became the FDC flagbearer and shows how far the party has fallen. This candidate didn’t even make a huge wave. Neither is this promising for the 2026 elections. As this is the state of the FDC at the moment… all flair and no momentum. Going door to door, holding rallies, but getting such a result. The former P.A. even got the same, but with a much more limited campaign. That is telling on the lack of recognition or even trust in the FDC. The public shows that by not even making it close to the NUP or the NRM.

Just imagine going in and thinking they could sway the public away from the NUP. Two of them even tried to run within the NUP and become the flagbearer before going independent after the loss. We have seen that has worked in the NRM, but it doesn’t work with the NUP. They have loyalty to the party-line for now and not just personalized leadership. That’s how this can be digested after the polls.

People are even associated with the late didn’t matter. The use of the family of the late MP didn’t help any cause either. They just became pawns and didn’t further the campaigns of the ones involved. These are the biggest losers after the Kawempe North By-Election.

They went out high and mighty but got nothing back for doing so. Except for wasting their time, energy and funds on running. It could have been better to be in the office or whatever day-job they had before trying to run. Because these people didn’t do much for themselves or for Kawempe North for that matter. These people have been humiliated. That is the gist here. Peace.

Kawempe North By-Election: A memo on the aftermath

This here is what resilience and what a resolute mind does. Even when all the odds are against the opposition and the National Unity Platform (NUP). The National Resistance Movement (NRM). The state used all of its instruments to get ahead and rig the proceedings.

They used all sorts of techniques, tricks of the trade and violence. That was from the state security agencies like JATT, ISO, UPDF, SFC and even use the RDCs. All of them was deployed for a mission and they tried to undermine the efforts of the people.

That Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola is the victor here and the population of Kawempe North. They stood tall in midst of it all. The state through everything into it. They tried and did what it could rig the election. This By-Election was marred with violence, intimidation and misuse of power. That’s what we have seen with arrests, harassment and painful actions made against the electorate.

If the NRM thinks they are winning the hearts of the Kampala by doing this. They are wrong. They picked a candidate that was validated through the party and was a long legacy family of the ruling regime. That’s what they do and how they operate. It is really weird that the party who wants the seat and takeover from the opposition is using violence, torture and preventive arrests too. They tried to block rallies and even arrest the NUP flagbearer twice. The state used all means to an end, which got them nowhere.

The Kawempe North shows loyalty and that it continues to trust in the NUP. Even when the NRM creates havoc and make the By-Election into a warzone. It looks like the state goes to war against their own civilians. When they use tear-gas, bullets and even crashes vehicles to block one from driving to their final campaign venue. That’s the sort of action the state does, people have torn bodies, damaged and suffering as bystanders, as journalists and whatnot.

This is what the NRM does and what they represent. Kawempe North By-Election is just a symptom of what is wrong with the regime. They have shown who they are and what they are willing to do. The ones in office, the ones who orders the security agencies on the streets and the ones who is willing to defend their actions. That there are spokespersons and high-ranking leaders willing to defend it by any means necessary.

They just show their true colours here. It is so blatant and without any regards of the victims. The victims are blamed, and they shouldn’t be there, but their votes or their reporting matters at another time. The state is allowed to use it all… and they always righteous. The ones ordering the bullets and the guns on unarmed civilians are in their rights. Instead of asking the question, why are the soldiers and anti-terrorist squad partaking in the elections. It just shows what sort of ordeal and what message the state send.

The civilians and the people should be commended for their actions here. Even as the state tried to bribe them and intimidate them. They still voted for the opposition and the successor. No one would have been shocked or in awe, if they had given way, because of the acts of the state. However, the people are tired of it and don’t trust the ruling regime. That’s why they are voting and protesting against the state. It shows…

Even when the people are locked in at the barrel of a gun. They still dares to question it. That’s remarkable. This will be remembered and is a token ahead of 2026. The NRM acts like it can use the state machinery against the citizens. However, they cannot overcome them all, even if they bring all the guns out. That’s what we are seeing… and that should worry the State House. All of his arms and all of his agencies cannot sway the public. Not even the little cash given to the voters helped the case either. It was eaten, but they voted for the other guy. That’s a compelling case… Peace.

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