The dust is yet to settle following the hotly contested Ngariam County National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections held on July 17, 2025.
State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang was declared the winner by Katakwi District NRM Registrar James Otilem, securing a commanding 35,076 votes.
His closest challenger, Daniel Mulalu got 2,264 votes, while Augustine Otuko managed 1,888 votes.
However, the overwhelming margin has sparked controversy, with allegations of electoral malpractice, vote buying, intimidation, and irregularities marring the outcome of what many claim was a flawed process.
In a press conference held on Monday afternoon in Soroti City, Daniel Mulalu broke his silence on the events that unfolded on polling day.
He claimed that the elections were riddled with malpractice that not only undermined the credibility of the process but also disenfranchised genuine voters.
“Yes, the election took place. But there were numerous anomalies, voters were threatened, others were paid during voting, which is against the NRM guidelines and laws,” Mulalu told journalists. “This was not a free and fair exercise.”
Mulalu further alleged that his polling agents were chased away from several polling stations, especially in areas where he was expected to perform well.
Mulalu accused his main rival, Minister Peter Ogwang, of allegedly distributing money on polling day in an effort to sway voters.
According to him, voters were promised monetary incentives, including a controversial pledge that any village delivering a block vote to Ogwang would receive five million Uganda Shillings.
“Villages were promised millions. That promise alone turned many voters against my agents and my campaign. Some stations where I got zero votes weren’t because I lacked support but because of these bribes and intimidation,” he said.
Though these claims have not been independently verified, they mirror similar accusations frequently raised during internal party elections within the ruling party, where ‘money politics’ has become a growing concern.
Perhaps the most damning claim from Mulalu relates to the conduct of the NRM electoral officials.
He alleges that all registrars, from village to sub-county level, were compromised after reportedly meeting with his opponent and receiving financial inducements.
“I have evidence that these officials met with my opponent before the elections and were paid to manipulate the process. They worked against me, and it was evident at several polling stations,” Mulalu charged.
He went further to narrate how his opponent allegedly tampered with voter lining arrangements by interfering with the woman MP lining process to mislead voters.
“Wherever the Woman MP candidate stood, Ogwang’s agents would quickly paste his posters behind her to confuse the voters,” he claimed.
Despite the NRM Katakwi Chairman, John Robert Okiror, issuing a statement declaring the polls peaceful, Mulalu strongly disputed this characterization.
“Security did what they could, but there was a lot of moving voters from one polling station to another. At my own polling station, things were peaceful because I was present. But elsewhere, intimidation and bribery were rampant,” he noted.
Mulalu emphatically rejected the results and announced that he will contest as an independent candidate in the 2026 general elections.
“I cannot accept these results. I know Ngariam. I cannot get zero at any polling station unless something was done. I am coming back as an independent. I won’t petition, because this is an internal matter in NRM, and I believe the process was compromised beyond repair,” he said.
He added that while NRM internal dispute mechanisms such as the tribunal appointed by President Museveni exist, he had lost confidence in them and preferred to take his case directly to the people.
Mulalu’s announcement sets the stage for a heated rematch in 2026.
His independent bid could fracture NRM support in Ngariam County, where loyalty to the ruling party runs deep but has been increasingly tested by internal divisions and controversial primaries.
Political Analysts from Teso say his decision could either be a political gamble or a strategic move to harness discontent among voters who feel the primaries were manipulated.
His claim of widespread irregularities may resonate with segments of the electorate, especially those who feel excluded or manipulated during the internal party processes.
Peter Ogwang, who is yet to publicly respond to Mulalu’s allegations, now faces a politically wounded but emboldened rival in the general election.
The Sports Minister has been a prominent figure in both Katakwi and national politics, but lingering questions about the credibility of his victory could cast a shadow over his campaign.
The Ngariam NRM primaries may have concluded, but the controversy surrounding them is far from over.
Daniel Mulalu’s resolve to contest as an independent not only deepens the cracks within the party’s local structures but also signals a new wave of political resistance within ruling party ranks.
As 2026 approaches, Ngariam voters will once again be called upon to choose their next MP. Whether they opt for continuity with Minister Ogwang or rally behind Mulalu’s protest candidacy could reshape the political landscape of Katakwi and beyond.
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