On Monday the 30^th of August, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) held its primary elections. The NRM is the ruling party, led by President Museveni. All over the country, NRM members elected their candidates for local government (sub-county and district levels) and the members of parliament (MP), who will stand for office in the national elections in 2011.

I followed the elections closely in Lamwo district, where I carry out my field research. Whereas most of the northern region Acholi is supporting the opposition parties, Lamwo seems to be an exception. The majority of the people seems to support the NRM. But do they really?

Apparently NRM’s popularity stems from the MP that comes from this district; Mr. Hilary Onek, also in the NRM party. He stood unopposed, so will be the NRM candidate for MP in next year’s elections. After spending a few days in the villages other reasons for ‘supporting’ the party came to the surface.

On the 28^th I hang around the meeting ground where candidates will come for their campaigns. When it got to the time, we see some of the youth changing their shirts. They come in bright yellow t-shirts – the NRM colour – with slogans like ‘No Change!’ and ‘Prosperity for all’ - the ‘no change’ referring to President Museveni’s 24 years in power. He’ll stand again for the Presidency next year. The guy who rides me around on his motor cycle starts chatting; why are you wearing that, who is really supporting the president here? They laugh; when the campaigners see them wearing this, they will much more likely give them money to buy booze...!

We watch the campaigns of 2 candidates for local government. Their manifestos are brief and in the end they give out money; an equivalent of $15. Later that day, the candidate for MP comes round. Since that is a higher position the sum of money given is increased to $30.The total sum is split among the youth, the elders, and the women. It is immediately spent on alcohol; I see 8 jerry cans and a number of bags containing the vodka sachets. I start feeling bad. It must be around 60 litres altogether, to be consumed by 50 people. And probably that very same night.

Back in the centre, I heard the candidate giving out the largest sum of money is likely to win. ‘If you give only $8 to a group of 20 people, they’ll just laugh at you and gossip. All people want here is food and drinks’ a lady tells me. Alcohol has become a serious problem while people stayed in IDP camps. The problem is now easily fed by politicians.

The youth put on their yellow shirts in the village in order to gain. It seems that a big share of the population is doing so, metaphorically speaking.

The NRM has a reputation for supporting areas that vote for the party, for instance by channelling government programmes and protecting NRM politicians. Leaders in the opposition have difficulties accessing the same resources. Also, people have given up voting for opposition, since President Museveni is staying in power anyway. By rigging election results, manipulating the Electoral Commission and intimidation, he’ll probably win again.

Thus, the prevalent idea is that once you don’t vote NRM you’re out. So it is better to vote NRM and be in, whatever its ideology and no matter how many times the President amends the constitution to stay in power.

Cheers.