
“I brought NRM in LANGO when everyone hated it. Now that NRM is the only way, they want to roll me out. People of Lango should respect me like the way West Nile is doing to Gen Moses Ali” – Sam Engola (17.07.2025).
Some people will celebrate tonight. Others will mourn. Plenty is scorned and some are distraught. The ones who didn’t see it coming. They haven’t seen this movie before or they have been oblivious to the state of affairs. The unopposed are running the game and the powerful are rigging it. There is no second chance and the losers are the ones out of favours.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Primaries haven’t been peaceful, fair or free, as long as I can remember. Neither was these. The reality is that in so many counties, districts and sub-counties, these elections are the security for the General Election. If you become the flagbearer of the NRM. Then you are most likely heading to Parliament or elected to an Office. Which means the burden and the incentives are so high. The price of losing is so vast and then your most likely never entering the halls or chambers of power. Therefore, the candidates and their allies are willing to trade shots, take aim and use force to intimidate to achieve their objective. We have seen it before and we are seeing it again.
The pre-ticket ballots, stuffed boxes, the blocked registrars and whatnot is common coincidence too. The NRM cannot contain itself or it’s mission. The party is just showing it’s mechanics and how it operates. If you believe things will be better in 2026. You are wrong. The violence and the usage of thugs or militias in favour of candidate in party primary will only escalate in the general. That’s why this election will mirror the one to come and it’s a warning.
This is brothers in the same house fighting. How do you think it will be done against their neighbour or mortal enemy for that matter? If they can use rigging, guns and ammo against a fellow brother of the same cloth. What will they do against someone who opposes them and deem them unfit? Seriously, imagine and you can see a grim picture.
That’s why I don’t care to write the old men who is re-elected and the elite candidates that are returning. Neither the losses of ministers and telling who was unopposed. Because, the time it matters is in 2026 and around 60% of these will get into Parliament in the General. Also, plenty of others will get into offices around the nation too. That’s why the reality is so bleak.
We are just seeing the preparation and the securing the mandate of total supremacy ahead of the 2026. This is just ensuring the majority and triggering the normalcy of the NRM regime. What went down is nothing new and we have seen this before.
So, be advised and take notes. The ills of the primaries will only be so much more in the general. That’s when the stakes are higher. When lives are taken in the primaries. You can double or triple that in the general. That’s just how they do and what they are willing to do. This is the price of the “democracy” that Museveni and the NRM ushered in. Therefore, don’t rest and think of this as over. No, this is the beginning of the 2026 elections and the brutality will only escalate from here. The impunity and ruthless behaviour will only be more visible as the days are closing in. Peace.














