Karamoja, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned National Resistance Movement (NRM) members who lost in the party primaries against running as independents, warning that such actions could divide votes and give the opposition an advantage in the upcoming elections.
Speaking during a media engagement at State Lodge in Karamoja on Wednesday night, President Museveni said that contesting as independents after losing in the primaries confuses voters and undermines party unity.
“Suppose you divide the NRM votes and the opposition wins, how will you go to heaven? Aren’t you going to end up in hell?” the President asked rhetorically, emphasizing the moral and political consequences of disunity within the party.
Museveni explained that NRM primaries are designed to ensure transparency, noting that they are conducted openly, with voters lining up behind their preferred candidates or their photos. He argued that claims of election malpractice are often due to poor organization or unreliable agents, rather than systemic cheating.
“Even if all the candidates are NRM, why use divisive methods that disturb our people and force them to choose among you again?” he said. “The primaries were open, held during the day, and everyone saw what happened area by area.”
The President acknowledged that standing as an independent is not illegal, as the Constitution allows it. However, he stressed that it should be guided by discipline and moral responsibility.
“It is legal, and we left it in the Constitution because sometimes party primaries are not yet foolproof,” Museveni said. “But those who choose that route should reflect carefully, it’s not a question of being NRM or not, but of discipline and commitment to the cause. Many think of themselves, not the mission.”
During the same interaction, President Museveni backed a proposal for affirmative action in education in the Karamoja sub-region. He supported the idea of introducing compulsory boarding schools to improve school attendance and retention rates among children.
The President is expected to conclude his tour of the Karamoja region today with a rally in Napak District in the morning. Later in the afternoon, he will cross into the Teso sub-region, where he is scheduled to address a major rally in Kapelebyong District.
