Kapchorwa, Uganda — Embattled former National Resistance Movement (NRM) District Registrar, Mr. Kamonges Akram, on Monday morning appeared before Chief Magistrate Mr. Achok Abraham Mooding to face four criminal charges stemming from the recent disputed party primaries in Kapchorwa District.
Mr. Kamonges was formally charged with forgery contrary to Section 324 of the Penal Code Act; uttering false documents contrary to Section 32; falsification of registers under Section 366; and conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to Section 5363 of the Penal Code Act. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was subsequently remanded until September 4, 2025.
The charges follow a major fallout from the NRM parliamentary primary elections held on Thursday, July 17, which were marred by widespread irregularities and accusations of vote tampering. As a result, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the NRM convened a crisis meeting with all parliamentary aspirants from Kapchorwa District at the party’s secretariat in Kampala.
During the high-level meeting, the CEC resolved to nullify the Kapchorwa primaries, citing gross procedural flaws and mismanagement. The committee also announced plans to hold fresh elections, with the new polling date expected to be confirmed no later than August 10, 2025.
As part of the corrective measures, the CEC dismissed Mr. Kamonges Akram from his duties and appointed Mr. Isaac Chepkurui as the acting district registrar. Mr. Chepkurui will work closely with the NRM national secretariat to coordinate the re-run of the elections.
The decision has been widely welcomed by stakeholders and aspirants. Woman MP aspirant Susan Chemutai praised the move, saying, “It’s a commendable decision by the NRM leadership. Justice is finally being served, and this restores trust among the electorate.”
Juliet Baula Cheboyin, another Woman MP hopeful who had previously threatened to quit the party over the flawed elections, also expressed relief. “We had considered defecting due to the chaos that happened, but the rerun announcement gives us hope for a fair contest.”
Supporters of various candidates have also lauded the CEC’s intervention and pledged to participate peacefully in the upcoming elections.
The NRM Electoral Commission reiterated its commitment to delivering a free, fair, and transparent electoral process in Kapchorwa District, promising that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
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