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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) district elections in Mubende came to a sudden halt on Friday after chaos erupted at the polling venue, with accusations flying that members from Kassambya Constituency were attempting to take control of all key leadership positions.

Tension began to rise when delegates noticed that candidates from Kassambya, including Usein Ssekamate, were contesting multiple district-level positions. Ssekamate and Twaha Mukomazi from Buwekula South were both running for the position of NRM District Spokesperson, raising concerns among other constituencies that Kassambya was trying to dominate the elections.

The issue ignited a heated debate among party members and supporters, culminating in a protest led by prominent local leaders. Joshua Ssekate, the NRM Chairperson for Mubende Municipality, and Jozana Lubega, East Division Chairperson, vocally opposed the perceived takeover. The two accused Kassambya of pushing a coordinated strategy to control district leadership to the detriment of fair representation across the region.

“It is not acceptable for one constituency to field candidates in almost every position. This is a district election, not a Kassambya conference,” one protester shouted amid the rising tensions.

Soon, arguments broke out among delegates, with harsh words exchanged and accusations of political manipulation and incompetence being hurled across the room. Security officers from the Uganda Police Force were quickly deployed to the venue to restore calm.

Amid the chaos, NRM District Registrar Amos Atuliinda announced the immediate suspension of the voting process, citing the breakdown of order and the need to reassess the eligibility and distribution of candidates.

“We are not going to conduct the voting at the moment,” Atuliinda declared, calling for calm and cooperation from all parties involved.

In an attempt to defuse the situation, Mubende Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Al Hajji Umar Lule Mawiya, ordered a complete evacuation of the voting venue. He instructed security officials to remove all delegates from the premises and prepare for a recount and voter verification exercise.

“Officers, make sure no one is in this place. Let everyone gather together for a recount. We must ensure that only verified voters are allowed to participate in this process,” Mawiya directed.

Before the process was halted, two key positions had already been filled. Thomas Ayinebyona was elected unopposed as the NRM District Chairperson, while Patrick Abaho was declared winner for the position of Vice Chairperson.

Despite these early results, the halt in the voting process cast a shadow over the integrity of the ongoing elections. Several party members expressed concern that internal divisions could jeopardize the party’s unity at the grassroots level.

“This kind of infighting gives our opponents room to discredit us. We must be careful not to turn our internal process into a public embarrassment,” said one delegate who asked not to be named.

This incident in Mubende follows a trend seen in other parts of the country where NRM internal elections have sparked controversy and logistical challenges.

In recent weeks, the NRM Electoral Commission has had to postpone or cancel elections in other districts such as Wakiso and Kabale due to disputes or irregularities.

Political analysts warn that unless the party strengthens its electoral framework and addresses concerns of regional favoritism, its internal cohesion could weaken ahead of future national elections.

The NRM Secretariat has yet to release an official statement on when the elections in Mubende will resume. Meanwhile, security remains tight, and officials continue to verify voters and candidates to prevent further unrest.