With just hours to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary primaries scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Uganda Police Force has deployed nine senior commanders—ranging from directors to commissioners—to take charge of security operations across the country.
This move comes amid heightened anticipation of electoral violence, a trend that has marred previous NRM internal elections. In response, police leadership has mapped out nine zones and dispatched experienced officers to oversee election-related security and ensure peaceful voting.
According to police spokespersons, the deployments are as follows:
- Busoga Zone: AIGP Moses Kafeero, Director of Human Resource Development and Training
- Northern Uganda: AIGP Stephen Tanui, Director for Fire and Rescue Services
- Karamoja: Commissioner of Police Patrick Lawot
- Kyoga Zone: Commissioner Paul Nkore
- Masaka Zone: Godfrey Maate
- Albertine Region: Moses Muluya
- Kampala Metropolitan: Commissioner of Police Richard Ecega
- South Western Zone (Mbarara HQ): Commissioner Hilary Kulayigye
- Rwenzori Zone (Fort Portal HQ): Commissioner Dennis Namuwoza
Police say this high-level deployment demonstrates the seriousness with which they are treating the NRM primaries, which will be conducted in over 72,000 villages using the lining-up voting method.
“There is a tendency for people to think you commit an offence and when elections are over you go back to normal business. You will account for all your offences no matter when,” police warned.
The NRM’s internal elections, particularly primaries for parliamentary and local government positions, have historically been plagued by violence, voter bribery, ballot stuffing, intimidation, and clashes among rival camps. In the 2020 party primaries, several constituencies reported arrests, physical altercations, destruction of property, and even fatalities in isolated incidents.
The scale and competitive nature of the primaries—often more heated than national elections due to intense intra-party rivalries—have forced security agencies to adapt a firmer approach in election years. The current deployment of top-ranking police officials is seen as a proactive measure to deter electoral offenses, protect voters, and ensure credible outcomes.
The Uganda Police Force has vowed to hold all offenders accountable, regardless of political affiliation or status, warning that post-election immunity will not be tolerated.
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