By Teso Talents
Date: May 23, 2025
The race for the Soroti City National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson post has taken a dramatic twist following serious allegations that some candidates are hiding delegates ahead of today’s highly anticipated elections.
Will Bisanga, the incumbent Chairperson and one of the four contenders in the closely contested race, raised the alarm in a strongly worded statement issued early this morning. According to Bisanga, rival camps are allegedly engaging in unethical behavior, including isolating and concealing voting delegates in a bid to skew the election outcome.
“Please advise candidates and rival camps of candidates that are hiding voters that more documents and guidelines relating to this election have been received from the Secretariat,” Bisanga said. “Therefore, it is prudent to arrive early enough to be sensitized.”
Bisanga, who has held the position since Soroti City was created, is facing stiff competition from Abdul Latiff, Anthony Egunyu, and John Enomu.
Today’s election, which is part of the broader NRM internal elections aimed at strengthening the party’s structures ahead of the 2026 general polls, is being conducted at the Teso College Aloet East playfield. Voting was scheduled to begin at exactly 10:00 AM, according to the NRM Electoral Commission’s roadmap.
More than 200 delegates from across Soroti City are expected to cast their votes.
The allegations of delegate concealment have sparked concerns over the credibility and fairness of the election process. Justine Okello, the Soroti City NRM Registrar, confirmed awareness of the claims but urged for calm among party members.
“We are aware of the concerns, but as a party, we remain committed to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election process,” Okello told Teso Talents. “Our focus is to ensure that every registered delegate is given the opportunity to vote without intimidation or manipulation.”
Political analysts note that the Soroti City NRM Chairperson seat is a powerful position that holds significant influence in determining party strategy, candidate endorsements, and grassroots mobilization. As such, the race has attracted intense lobbying, especially among the youth and women’s leagues.
Campaigns have been marked by door-to-door mobilization and subtle attacks between rivals, but the latest allegations have raised fresh concerns about internal democracy within the party.
A candidate who requested anonymity dismissed Bisanga’s claims as mere political posturing.
“This is a desperate attempt by someone who feels the ground is shifting. All candidates should respect the process and allow delegates to decide freely,” the candidate said.
On the ground in Soroti City, the atmosphere remained tense yet calm, with delegates undergoing a thorough verification process before accessing the voting grounds. Security has been beefed up, with police and NRM vigilance teams deployed to maintain order and monitor the process.
While the NRM Secretariat in Kampala has not officially commented on the developments, sources indicate that a team of observers from the national office has been sent to monitor the elections closely in response to the allegations.
As the city awaits the election outcome, all eyes remain on the integrity of the process and whether the NRM will uphold the principles of transparency and democracy within its ranks.
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