Africa-Press – Uganda. A section of NRM voters from Kisoko Sub-county in Tororo District on Tuesday staged a demonstration, rejecting the outcome of the recently concluded party primaries for sub-county chairpersons held on August 14, 2025.
The hotly contested race attracted four candidates and ended with the district registrar, Joseph Kadoketch, declaring the current sub-county speaker, Patrick Osinde, as winner after he polled 4,130 votes. The incumbent chairperson, Christopher Owor, came second with 1,699 votes.
But the results have since sparked outrage among voters, who accuse the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, a resident of the sub-county of manipulating the process in favor of Osinde.
Armed with placards, the protesters gathered at the sub-county headquarters, questioning how results were declared when, according to them, no voting took place.
“I reached my polling station as early as 7am and found several police officers deployed there. One of them asked me what I had come to do, and when I said I had come to vote, he told me to go back home. Since I was alone, I got scared and left,” narrated James Obbo, one of the voters.
Another resident, Joseph Obudi, claimed they were served with fake declaration forms.
“We had started lining up to vote when we discovered that the declaration forms at the polling station were fake. When we tried to question, police responded with teargas. We all ran for our lives,” he said.
According to the protesters, Dr. Tanga allegedly summoned election registrars to his home and instructed them to fill in declaration forms in favor of Osinde.
“All sub-county party registrars were called to Dr. Tanga’s home where they were told to fill declaration forms that were later used to declare my opponent. This is very bad for the party and something must be done,” said Christopher Owor, the incumbent chairperson.
The angry voters are now demanding a rerun of the elections, warning that they may defect to other parties if their grievances are not addressed.
“We are tired of Dr. Tanga imposing leaders on us. He behaves like he owns NRM. Mr. President, we love NRM but Tanga must leave us,” said Christine Awor, one of the demonstrators.
Owor, whose supporters claim they narrowly survived after police fired teargas and live bullets on election day, insists the exercise was flawed and vows to return to the race with or without the NRM flag.
“I still have the same voters who want me to be their leader. I am waiting to hear from them. Even if they tell me to cross to another party, I will do so to ensure I appear on the ballot in the general elections,” he said.
When contacted for a response, Dr. Tanga Odoi dismissed the allegations as malicious and intended to tarnish his name.
He also threatened legal action against the protesters.
“In that sub-county, we have over 20,000 voters not the few making noise. Let them put their complaints in writing, and I will respond. But should I get that write-up, I will take them to court for defamation. People should stop spoiling others’ names,” he warned.
Dr. Tanga has in recent years faced repeated accusations from party members of manipulating internal elections, claims he has consistently denied.
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