Internal disagreements have emerged within Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, with a faction of youth calling themselves the Revivalist Movement accusing the leadership of abandoning transparency, accountability, and democratic values, demanding the restoration of these principles within the party.
Isaac Rukanda, the team leader and Chief Commissar of the Revivalist Movement, expressed the frustration of millions of NRM youth, alleging that top officials have strayed from the party’s original vision and no longer uphold the party’s values.
While addressing journalists at the Uganda National Theatre on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the group accused the party leadership of failing to organize internal elections, which they say violates the party constitution.
According to Rukanda, the Revivalist Movement moved to file a lawsuit against the party Secretary General, Richard Todwong, and the Chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, Dr. Tanga Odoi, who they accuse of failing to organize internal elections.
“After years of raising concerns internally through letters and petitions, our leaders arrogantly ignored us. We had no choice but to file a legal suit—Civil Case Miscellaneous Cause No. 0230 of 2024—against the NRM party, the Secretary General, and the chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission. This suit specifically addresses their failure to organize internal elections, a violation of both the NRM constitution and Uganda’s constitution,” he said.
Chapter 5, Section 46(1) of the NRM constitution requires that the party conducts elections of all elected members of NRM organs every five years. However, the Revivalist Movement contends that leaders have exceeded this term without legitimate justification, and they reject the prolonged use of the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse for delaying elections.
The NRM last held structural elections in 2016. The youth said that leaders have continued to hold offices illegally beyond the stipulated five-year term, which undermines the credibility of the party. They argued that delaying structural elections disenfranchises members of their rights to elect leaders to represent them.
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The group also challenged the Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) authority over extending the term of office for elected leaders beyond the six-month limit specified in the constitution. They said that this is deliberate neglect of responsibility likely to affect the future of NRM’s democratic values.
“Some NRM leaders have also misleadingly told the public that the CEC of the NRM has powers to indefinitely postpone elections; this is false. CEC, after consultations, can only extend the term of service for only six months while the EC of NRM organizes elections,” Rukanda explained.
The group is now calling for the immediate resignation of Todwong and Dr. Odoi, citing their alleged failure to uphold the party’s constitutional requirements.
Keith Namara Kyaruzi, the group’s lawyer, noted that the legal suit seeks to address the legitimacy of NRM leaders’ continued tenure and the broader issue of leadership accountability within the NRM. They also want the court to compel the party to organize internal elections without further delay.
The Revivalist Movement insisted that restoring democratic practices and accountability is critical to preserving the integrity of the NRM.
This comes amidst continued criticisms from a section of the members of the public and politicians arising from the recently concluded Kisoro by-elections NRM primaries, which some claim to have been marred with irregularities after Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, who went independent after being won by Rose Kabagyeni during primaries, won her NRM opponent in the general by-election.
