Africa-Press – Uganda. Allegations of voter bribery have cast a shadow over the just-concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) sub-county leadership elections in Mukono District, as two rival factions trade accusations of electoral malpractice in an increasingly tense build-up to the district-level contest.
The election has exposed deep cracks within the NRM’s Mukono structure, pitting the camp of Hajj Haruna Ssemakula, the incumbent NRM Vice Chairperson for Mukono, against that of Hajj Twahir Ssebagala, the district party chairperson.
Their battle for control has sharply polarised the local party base, with each side manoeuvring to stack delegate numbers ahead of Monday’s pivotal vote for district leadership.
Preliminary results suggest a landslide victory for Ssemakula’s faction, which reportedly secured about 96 percent of sub-county leadership positions.
Prominent wins under his camp include Lamecka Walusimbi in Nakisunga, Medi Sozi in Kyampisi, Edward Katamba in Kasawo, and Stephen Kigundu in Mukono Central Division.
But the dominant performance has prompted an outcry from Ssebagala’s supporters, who allege widespread bribery and voter intimidation.
Muhhamed Kagiri, who lost the race for chairperson in Nakisunga Sub-county, accused Ssemakula’s team of ferrying voters to a beach resort in Mpata, where he claims they were entertained overnight and handed Shs100,000 each ahead of polling day.
“These elections were not fair. People were bought and bouncers were deployed everywhere to scare away the elderly,” Kagiri told this reporter.
Other voters echoed the bribery claims, some anonymously.
“I was offered money by one of the candidates. It’s not right, but what can we do? We need money to survive,” said a voter from Nama Sub-county.
The allegations have been firmly denied by Ssemakula’s camp.
Julie Nasuuna Kalule, a newly elected chairperson, argued that the accusations were being used to discredit a legitimate victory brought about by disillusionment with the previous leadership.
“People voted for change because the current leadership has lost touch with the grassroots. They have failed to lobby for development and have instead connived with the rich to grab land from locals,” she said.
Hajji Haruna Ssemakula dismissed the bribery allegations as baseless.
“The people of Mukono want change. The current leadership has failed to unite and mobilise support for the party. That’s why NRM lost all elective positions to NUP in the 2021 general elections,” he said, challenging his critics to produce proof.
But Hajji Twahir Ssebagala, whose leadership is under fire, defended his record and said the party’s woes in Mukono reflect broader national issues.
“There are many reasons why NRM lost support in Mukono — land grabbing, the marginalisation of fishing communities, corruption. These are national issues. You can’t blame everything on me,” he said.
Monday’s district-level vote is expected to be a high-stakes affair. With over 210,000 registered NRM members in Mukono, the outcome could significantly shape the party’s prospects in the region ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Both camps are under pressure to assert dominance — and to do so without further eroding public trust in the internal democratic process.
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