National Resistance Movement (NRM) youth stronghold youth Moses Omujugujugu has formally petitioned the party’s Electoral Commission, demanding the disqualification of three candidates he alleges are ineligible to contest for youth positions due to exceeding the age limit set by Ugandan law.
In his petition, Omujugujugu cites Section 1(g) of the National Youth Council Act, Cap 124, which defines a “youth” as a person aged between 18 and 30 years.
He claims that Phiona Nakku, Mercy Kanyesigye, and Daniel Ongom, all recently nominated for various youth positions in the ongoing NRM internal elections, are above the lawful age threshold.
“The law is very clear. Only persons aged 18 to 30 are eligible to stand for youth positions. Anything outside this is illegal and dishonourable to the Movement,” Omujugujugu stated. “We must uphold the rule of law and the integrity of the NRM.”
According to Omujugujugu, evidence submitted to the NRM Electoral Commission includes national identification documents, academic records, and entries in the National Electoral Commission (EC) register.
He alleges that Nakku Phiona fraudulently altered her birth year from 1994 to 1997 earlier this year to appear eligible for the position of National Female Youth MP.
“Her passport and National ID, used consistently over the past decade, show she was born in 1994. Her O-Level results indicate she sat for her S.4 exams in 2010 at age 16, making her 31 today,” he said.
“If she claims to have been born in 1997 and sat S.4 in 2010, then she would have completed P.7 at age three and probably started school before she was born. What a joke?” he noted.
He further criticized the NRM Electoral Commission for allegedly turning a blind eye to these discrepancies.
“What sane Electoral Commission would tolerate such madness? Is Dr. Tanga Odoi really up to his task?” Omujugujugu asked, referring to the NRM EC chairperson.
Political influence
Omujugujugu also raised concerns about Nakku’s political connections, noting that she is a sister to NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo and has served as her personal assistant.
“She shouldn’t use her office to orchestrate such fraudulent acts that ultimately harm the NRM,” he said.
He claimed that Nakku has been influencing NRM district registrars to participate in and mobilize for her campaigns, which he described as a serious administrative breach.
He confirmed having written to the party about the issue and expressed satisfaction that the Secretary General subsequently issued a warning to implicated officials.
Other candidates
Omujugujugu also alleged that Danile Ongom, a candidate for Chairperson of the National Youth Council, was born in 1993 and is therefore 32 years old, beyond the legal limit.
“If the NRM EC does not act, it risks repeating the same mistake it made in the 2020 elections with Blaise Kamugisha,” he warned.
He further called for scrutiny into the age eligibility of Mercy Kanyesigye, whom he claims has long served in the National Youth Council and is likely above the limit as well.
Framing the issue as one of principle and not personal rivalry, Omujugujugu called on the entire NRM structure to act in defense of the party’s founding values.
“This is not just about legality, it’s about protecting the integrity of the Movement,” he said.
“We owe it to the sacrifices of the NRA Revolution to ensure the NRM is not infiltrated by opportunists and shortcuts.”
“The future of the Movement belongs to the disciplined, the qualified, and the committed, not to the fraudulent and self-seeking. We will follow this matter to its logical conclusion,” Omujugujugu concluded.
