Africa-Press – Uganda. Long-serving NRM mobilizer for Teso sub-region, Teddy Acham, suffered a surprising defeat in the party’s elders’ league elections held Monday at Soroti Secondary School, marking a major upset in the internal party polls.
Acham, a prominent presidential mobilizer and key figure in the NRM’s operations in eastern Uganda, lost the position of Secretary for Publicity to political newcomer Stephen Enou.
Enou secured a commanding 40 votes, more than double Acham’s 16, in a contest that has rattled the party’s top ranks in Teso.
The stunning loss was only the start of a dramatic day for the ruling party. Later in the afternoon, chaos erupted during the NRM elections for Soroti City East’s mainstream structures, also held at Soroti Secondary School.
According to NRM District Election Officer Justine Okello, confusion broke out when non-delegates attempted to participate in the vote, sparking clashes among delegates and halting the process temporarily.
“The presence of non-delegates created confusion and triggered scuffles among party members,” Okello said.
To resolve the impasse, electoral officials called the six candidates into a closed-door consensus meeting. Four agreed to step down, leaving Moses Wanca and Nicholas Takan to contest the seat.
Out of 395 accredited delegates, 333 voted, with Wanca clinching victory by a razor-thin margin—167 to 166. The remaining candidates—Isaac Elakuna, Abdul Mwanika, and Arengu Francis—received no votes.
Wanca Moses was later declared the duly elected NRM Chairperson for Soroti City East.
However, due to the earlier disruptions, voting for key positions including Vice Chairperson, Secretary for Publicity, Secretary for Finance, and General Secretary was postponed to Wednesday, May 21, at the same venue.
The elections are part of the NRM’s broader national campaign to rejuvenate its grassroots leadership and prepare for the next general elections.
But in Soroti, the process has exposed underlying tensions and organizational lapses.
With party unity under pressure, the coming days will be crucial as the NRM attempts to bring calm and credibility to the remainder of the elections in the city.
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