In a recent development within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Youth League, leaders have voiced concerns over what they perceive as divisive tactics spearheaded by the party’s Electoral Commission Chairman, Tanga Odoi. The youth leaders accuse Odoi of orchestrating divisions within the Youth League, allegedly for personal gain.
A faction of the Youth League leaders has pointed fingers at Tanga Odoi, claiming that he is leveraging his influence to promote his son, Tanga Collins, as a candidate for the position of NRM Youth League Chair. According to their assertions, Tanga Odoi’s purported agenda is to engineer the election in favor of his son, thus splintering the unity of the Youth League.
In a letter dated March 9, 2024, the concerned leaders expressed their condemnation of certain figures within the NRM Secretariat, singling out Tanga Odoi for utilizing his familial ties to advance his own interests within the party. The letter explicitly states, “We would like to condemn some leaders at the NRM Secretariat, especially Mr. Tanga Odoi, who is using his son, Tanga Collins, whom he wants to contest as Chairman of the NRM Youth League.”
Furthermore, the aggrieved leaders have called upon the national Chairman to intervene and address what they perceive as Tanga Odoi’s misconduct. They assert that Odoi’s behavior falls short of the standards expected of someone in his position and is not conducive to holding public office. “We would like to request the national chairman to bring to order Mr. Tanga Odoi, who has in the recent past turned himself into a lumpen and hooligan. His conduct is wanting and not fit to hold public office,” the letter reads.
In addition to the allegations against Tanga Odoi, the youth leaders have raised concerns about the emergence of a new entity known as the Yellow Youth Movement (YYM), purportedly led by Jacob Eyeru. They claim that the YYM, allegedly backed by certain NRM leaders within the Secretariat, aims to undermine the efforts and initiatives of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), led by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The accusations leveled against Tanga Odoi and the emergence of the Yellow Youth Movement underscore growing tensions within the NRM Youth League. These developments not only highlight internal rifts but also reflect broader challenges facing the party as it navigates through the intricacies of leadership succession and ideological coherence.
Efforts to reach Tanga Odoi for comment on the allegations have been unsuccessful thus far. However, the gravity of the accusations and their potential implications for the integrity of the NRM Youth League signal a pressing need for transparent and inclusive dialogue to address underlying grievances and restore unity within the party ranks.
As the NRM continues its journey toward fulfilling its mandate and serving the interests of the Ugandan populace, the resolution of internal conflicts and the cultivation of a culture of accountability remain paramount in sustaining the party’s relevance and effectiveness in governance.
