“Addressing the press in Lira City on Monday, Nyero Moses, NRM chairperson for Myene sub-county, stated that the ONC coordinator for Oyam must account for over shs7m meant for facilitating youth hired to protect votes for their candidate (now President-elect), Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Nyero said some polling agents were paid – others not. Some were paid shs10,000 as opposed to shs50,000 as facilitation. Edwok Moses, NRM youth chairperson of Oyam district said that with evidence, they were shocked to learn that the director of finance and administration at the Electoral Commission. Cyprian Ogwang was in Oyam on polling day, where he masterminded electoral malpractice. Ogwang, Edwok said, connived with some NRM party leaders, and security officers to “rig the election” and ensure the youth’s target of Museveni getting 95% in Oyam district was not achieved” (The Northern Daily – TDN News Uganda, 26.01.2026).
Some things never fails and that’s greed. The moment of truth and the misuse of office. This is systemic and part of what the President has created over the years. The commercialization of politics embedded with costly patronage is breeding ground for rampant corruption, which isn’t surprising but what to be expected in the Republic.
The youths tale in Oyam district should be a warning. This is small money in the grand scheme of things, but it happens on a larger scale elsewhere. It is telling that someone does this so close to the election and uses the funds on other things. The youths partaking and accepting responsibility wasn’t paid as promised for their efforts. Regardless, if we care for the cause or think it is a just one. Still, they deserve their dues and get their balance. However, that’s not coming here and someone ate their salaries.
This is just what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) does and how it operates. That’s why people does it and gets away with it too. It is just who they are and we shouldn’t be shocked or be thinking otherwise really. The President has promoted these sorts of activities and it’s natural that people far-and-wide is doing it. They see others get away with it and think it’s their turn to get a cut. Because, when other big-men gets their piece, so should I and therein is the problem.
The youths of Oyam district is just a small fraction, but this is how public expenditure is lost. This is how the system is rigged against the civilians and the citizens. As they are used and mocked, meanwhile the elites are eating of their plates. They are supposed to grin and laugh, but they taken for granted and someone else ate their meal on their behalf. That’s what they are doing and we are just supposed to look idly by.
If you think the NRM government and their handlers are honest. Just look and read this story again. It shows their heart and what they are capable of doing. A small time and a part time gig wasn’t even paid in full and someone else took the cash. Youth who did a job and did the hours as stipulated. These people was short-changed, just so one man could get a bounty.
That’s it and this is a reflection of the NRM as a whole and how corruption is a natural part of the party. It is who they are and what they have become. Peace.
MinBane 