Decentralized NRM Youth Polls in Arua City Restore Calm After Kololo Violence
Arua City NRM youth delegates during the election on Thursday
ARUA CITY: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Youth and Entrepreneurs Election, which faced disruption in Kampala, concluded successfully in Arua City on September 18, 2025.
This follows the NRM Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) decision to decentralize and reschedule the polls across various districts.
The NRM Electoral Commission had previously halted the youth elections in Kololo due to violent incidents, prompting the CEC to decentralize the process to ensure order.
In Arua City, Tanga Collins, son of the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, was elected National Youth Chairperson with 13 out of 19 delegate votes. Tanga also secured a significant victory in Arua District and elsewhere.
The elections in the greater Arua proceeded peacefully under tight security, with no reports of irregularities, such as result manipulation, violence, or voter intimidation, according to election officials.
Joyce Amaguru, the NRM Chairperson for Arua City, congratulated the candidates on the successful elections and commended security agencies for maintaining peace.
“Congratulations to all who participated in these elections. I thank everyone for ensuring they were conducted successfully,” Amaguru said.
She added, “You have voted for leaders you trust to work with you, impacting the lives of youths and entrepreneurs.”
Vincent Anguzu, the Youth Chairperson for the former Pajulu Sub-County and a delegate, attributed the Kololo election’s failure to chaos.
He praised delegates for adhering to electoral guidelines and expressed confidence that the newly elected youth and entrepreneur leaders would drive transformation nationwide.
“The CEC’s resolution to decentralize has been effective, resulting in peaceful elections without manipulation,” Anguzu said. “We are delighted with the smooth process.”
Meanwhile Poly Ongom, the Assistant RCC for Arua City in charge of Ayivu Division, commended the organizers for the orderly elections and urged winners and delegates to unite ahead of the 2026 tasks.
The decentralized NRM National Youth and Entrepreneurs Election took place just one week before the party president’s nomination at the Independent Electoral Commission of Uganda