Although the National Resistance Movement (NRM) claims to be a democratic organisation, in the 36 years that it has been in power in Uganda it has never transferred power to another party. NRM leader Museveni made clear during recent elections that it’s not the people of Uganda who decide: “NRM has the last word“
NRM came to power, still known as the NRA (National Resistance Army), by the sword, killing thousands of Ugandans. When the NRM was in power, it was determined to stay in power and only pressure from donor countries made it adapt multiparty democracy. However, according to factcheckers site Pesacheck none of the organised elections were free & fair. Organising zombie elections was the perfect compromise for the NRM to stay in power while keeping donor countries happy.
Also within the NRM itself no opposition to the leadership of Yoweri Museveni is accepted. Now that Museveni gets older he wants his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to take over. His former NRA fighters were not happy about that and in 2013 General David Sejusa wrote an article in the Daily Monitor describing the project of launching Muhoozi to power and coining the term ‘Project Muhoozi’. The office of the Daily Monitor was blocked for days and General Sejusa had to flee the country.
The Ugandan constitution did not allow for anyone to serve more than two terms, so Museveni intimidated parliament and changed the constitution. Later, he ran into the ‘age limit’, and also that article was lifted from the constitution. Again, he used violence, intimidation and bribery. MP Betty Nambooze was tortured inside parliament and still has to use a wheelchair.
Important positions in the government are not given on the basis of qualifications and elections, but are given to friends & family. His wife Janet is the minister of Education, his son Muhoozi leads the army.
In-fighting is necessary to become part of the group. NRM primary elections are decided by intimidation, bribery and violence, such as in Isingiro that saw a violent struggle between Stephen Kangwagye and Dr. Mpeirwe.
Violence,Torture and Corruption
The non-democratic, corrupt and violent nature of the NRM is also shown by the many crimes that key members of NRM have been involved in.
- NRM president Museveni and former NRM foreign minister Sam Kutesa have accepted 500.000 USD bribes from Chinese investor Ho according to American department of Justice.
- NRM president Museveni commented on the torture of Bobi Wine that he was ‘appropriately beaten‘. The torture was likely ordered by Museveni.
- NRM commander of the land forces Muhoozi, the son of Museveni, had Ugandan writer Kakwenza picked up from his house and tortured after Kakwenza posted tweets about Muhoozi and Museveni..
- NRM deputy speaker of parliament Tayebwa has tortured an employee of the UMEME electricity company and was caught on video.
- NRM speaker of parliament Anita Among mocked torture survivor Francis Zaake after he competed in a sport competition.
- NRM prime minister gave out bribes in the by-election of Kayunga according to dozens of locals interviewed by BBS.
At every level the NRM is a violent and criminal organisation. The book ‘Rigged’ about the 2021 Ugandan elections documents this very well.