Oyam, Uganda – The growing trend of syndicate politics among NRM aspirants in Oyam has sparked concerns of division, confusion and disunity within the party.
Aspirants are allegedly backing fellow contenders in either lower or upper positions to strategically outmaneuver opponents, a practice that has been blamed for weakening the party’s electoral success.
During an extended NRM District Executive Meeting on February 4, 2025, Jaspher Onena, the NRM Chairperson for Oyam District, addressed the issue, vowing to eradicate such political maneuvering ahead of the forthcoming NRM primary elections.
He called on party members to embrace love, unity, and cooperation to strengthen the party’s position in the region.
Patrick Ogwang Obura, commonly known as Ogwang Peko a Lango, a hopeful aspirant for the Oyam South 12th Parliamentary seat, also condemned the practice.
He criticized candidates who field their own preferred aspirants at different political levels as a strategy to weaken their rivals.
Ogwang noted that such disunity has cost the NRM several elections, urging all aspirants to abandon syndicate politics and instead promote peace, unity and love for the party’s success.
Meanwhile, Apollo Oree, an aspirant for the Oyam North Parliamentary seat, distanced himself from such practices.
Speaking to the press, he affirmed that politics is an individual journey, emphasizing that he would not engage in sabotage or rivalry but rather focus on his manifesto and campaign strategies for political success.
