The fallout from the chaotic scenes at the NRM Delegates Conference in Kololo continues to ripple, with youth aspirant Mercy Kanyesigye urging the party to quickly bring clarity to the suspended youth elections.
Kanyesigye, who is eyeing the NRM National Female Youth MP slot for the 2026–2031 term, said the indefinite postponement had unsettled young delegates who had expected to play their part in shaping the ruling party’s next line of leadership. “These delegates left behind work, family and school commitments to stand in the sun and represent their people. They deserve closure, not uncertainty,” she told journalists in Kampala.
The suspension was ordered by President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday after confusion and scuffles marred the youth electoral process.
While order was later restored and the Central Executive Committee elections went ahead, the youth vote was shelved, a decision that has left delegates in limbo and aspirants questioning when the process will resume.
Kanyesigye, however, was careful to strike a conciliatory tone, thanking the young people who endured the disruption while appealing to the party secretariat and the Electoral Commission to set new dates.
“We cannot afford to leave the largest demographic of our party hanging. Restoring confidence among the youth is critical for the NRM as we head into 2026,” she said.
Her remarks point to the delicate position the NRM finds itself in: trying to maintain order in its internal elections while keeping restless youth delegates engaged.
The delay has already stirred frustration in the ranks, with some viewing it as a test of the party’s ability to manage internal democracy.
Whether the leadership moves quickly to conclude the exercise will not only determine the fate of the suspended youth polls but could also send a signal about how the NRM intends to handle dissent, participation and inclusivity in the months leading to the general election.