The Common Ground Council (CGC), a coalition of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)9 and the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), has today called on the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to ensure peaceful and fair party primaries scheduled for Thursday, July 17.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the ANT headquarters in Bukoto, Kampala, on July 16, 2025, PFF National Executive Chairman Erias Lukwago emphasized that while the CGC has no intention of meddling in the NRM’s internal affairs, the outcomes of the primaries carry national significance.
“What happens in the NRM primaries tomorrow affects the democratic health of the entire country. If violence breaks out, it won’t stop at the party gates, it will spill into our communities. There is a country at stake. If unfairness reigns, it will not only discredit individuals but dent the very democracy it’s meant to foster,” Lukwago said.
Alice Alaso, ANT’s National Coordinator, echoed these concerns, urging the NRM leadership to safeguard the integrity of the vote and the safety of all voters.
“These elections could easily normalize coercion, bribery, and violence. As opposition leaders, we don’t want this to happen. Let the NRM primaries be peaceful and fair, because if they fail, they will transfer the violence into the general elections,” Alaso said.
ANT spokesperson Gerald Karuhanga however warned that the implications of the primaries go beyond the NRM’s internal politics.
“If you see fire in your neighbor’s house, it’s wise to raise the alarm; it could soon spread to yours. That’s why we are speaking up now,” Karuhanga stated.
In response, the NRM has reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent electoral process.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, July 15, the party’s National Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi, alongside Secretary General Richard Todwong, stated that measures were in place to ensure a peaceful vote.
Dr. Odoi issued a stern warning to all candidates, declaring that any individual involved in inciting violence or electoral malpractice would be disqualified and have their results nullified.
The NRM’s parliamentary flag bearer primaries are a critical step in determining the party’s candidates for the 2026 general elections.
