Kampala — Information minister Kabakumba Masiko has assured the nation that next year's general elections will be peaceful unlike the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections which were marred by violence and irregularities.

Addressing journalists at the media centre in Kampala yesterday, Kabakumba said the national Electoral Commission (EC) is well funded and has competent people to manage elections compared to the NRM.

"The EC has full-time electoral commissioners, a competent Police force, a relatively good budget and carries out civic education," she said.

Nominations for presidential and parliamentary candidates will take place on October 25 and 26 this year. She cautioned the public against causing chaos and warned that anyone caught would face the law.

Kabakumba agreed that several people were caught rigging the polls, which led to the postponement of the elections. "The culprits were arrested and handed over to the Police," she stated.

The NRM primary elections that were supposed to be held on Monday were postponed to tomorrow in over 39 districts and several municipalities following late delivery of voting materials, rigging and violence.

The minister emphasised that the NRM was still strong and united and that the re-elections would not affect the Government's work. Parliament was suspended for three weeks until September 13 to allow political parties hold their primary elections.

Commenting on the issue of NRM losers contesting as independents, Kabakumba said once one contests in the party primaries, they are bound to support whichever candidate goes through. She ruled out a return to selecting party flag-bearers basing on party electoral colleges as was the case before.