Apac, Uganda: A bitter dispute has erupted among leaders of the ruling National Resistance Movement in Apac District over Shs186 million that was reportedly meant to facilitate campaign activities during the recently concluded elections.
What began as quiet complaints among grassroots mobilisers has now escalated into a full-blown political storm, exposing divisions within the district’s ruling party structures and raising questions about transparency and accountability in handling campaign resources.
According to several local party leaders, the Shs186 million was deposited on January 13, 2026 into the district party account at Centenary Bank.
The funds were reportedly channelled through the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) to support election-related activities, including facilitation of polling agents, mobilisers and other grassroots campaign structures.
However, months after the elections, several mobilisers claim they never received the promised facilitation despite actively participating in campaign work.
Grassroots mobilisers cry foul
Village mobilisers, often considered the backbone of rural political campaigns, are among the most vocal critics. Some claim they were tasked with coordinating campaign activities, mobilising voters and monitoring polling stations but were never paid for their work.
“We were told the money had come to support campaign work,” one mobiliser said. “But after the elections, nobody could explain where it went.”
The discontent has been particularly intense among leaders at sub-county and village levels who say they were never informed how the funds were spent.
Fueling the controversy are allegations that some district officials made expensive purchases shortly after the funds were deposited.
According to party members raising concerns, some leaders are suspected to have bought a car and invested in a chicken hatchery around the same period, sparking speculation that the campaign funds may have been diverted.
While no official investigation has confirmed the claims, the timing of the purchases has intensified calls for transparency.
Party officials dismiss allegations
District NRM officials have strongly rejected the accusations. The district publicity secretary, Daniel Eyit, said the critics had misunderstood the purpose of the funds.
According to Eyit, the money was not intended for distribution through district party structures but was meant for activities coordinated by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC).
“The money was not for distribution through the district structures,” Eyit said, adding that the district account was only used as a temporary channel because the ONC does not have its own bank account.
The district NRM chairperson, Talib Okabo, also dismissed the claims, describing them as politically motivated. Okabo argued that some disgruntled party members are using the controversy to undermine his leadership following recent internal party elections.
“This is politics,” he said, suggesting the accusations are part of internal power struggles within the party.
The dispute comes at a time when the ruling party is celebrating significant electoral gains in Apac.
During the recent elections, the NRM won two parliamentary seats, up from one in 2021, reclaimed the district LC5 chairperson seat after nearly 30 years in opposition hands, captured the Apac Municipality mayoral seat and secured a majority of local council positions.
For many observers, the timing of the dispute is striking, as the party appears electorally stronger than it has been in decades while internal tensions continue to grow.
Calls for accountability
Political analysts say the controversy highlights a recurring challenge within many political party structures, the management of campaign resources.
Grassroots mobilisers, who often operate with limited support, are increasingly demanding clear accountability mechanisms for campaign funds.
Without transparency, analysts warn, such disputes risk eroding trust within party ranks and weakening mobilisation structures ahead of future elections.
