There was a scuffle at St. Paul Church of Uganda Primary School in Kyebando Central, Kawempe North, as supporters of Faridah Nambi and Hanifah Mulerwa Karadi clashed over the use of the voters’ register during the NRM party primaries.
According to NRM Electoral Commission guidelines, all voters must be verified using the official party register before they are allowed to line up behind their preferred candidate.
However, at this polling station, Nambi’s supporters initially agreed not to use the register.
But when Karadi’s supporters began increasing in number, Nambi’s team abruptly reversed the decision and insisted the registrar read out names from the official register, alleging that many of Karadi’s supporters were not NRM members.
Karadi supported her team’s demand to follow the original agreement, but the registrar maintained that the party’s guidelines must be followed and insisted on reading names from the register. Voting at the station resumed after a brief delay.
By press time, preliminary results from polling stations across Kawempe Division had started arriving at Makerere University, where the NRM flag bearers for both Kawempe North and South constituencies would be officially declared later in the day
At Kawempe Mbogo Primary School playground, where Nambi cast her vote, returning officer Farouq Ssegirinya announced that Nambi had secured 275 votes, while Karadi received 20 votes. Speaking after her declaration, Nambi expressed confidence and vowed to win the election.
However, at St. Paul Church of Uganda Primary School in Kyebando Central, Karadi was declared the winner by returning officer Vincent Kasacca, having garnered 260 votes against Nambi’s 39.
In her post-election remarks, Karadi voiced strong dissatisfaction with the conduct of the electoral process, alleging irregularities including underage voters and students being allowed to line up.
Karadi pledged to challenge the results and called for accountability from the NRM Electoral Commission.
Speaking to reporters before casting her vote, Nambi noted that this was a decisive moment, especially for those who doubted the party’s decision to back her in the recent by-election.
Meanwhile, at the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters where results for the District Woman MP for Kampala are expected to be announced, the situation remains calm as results continue to trickle in.
Four candidates are competing for the NRM ticket for District Woman MP for Kampala: Namuli Joweria Zaake, Sofia Safina Kenyangi, Amina Nanziri Lukanga, and Shamim Nanfuma.
By Olivia Nabaggala
17th July 2025
End
