Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has dispatched senior party officials and cadres across the country to coordinate mobilisation and monitor preparations for the upcoming Local Council (LC) and Women Council elections, as it seeks to consolidate support at the grassroots.
Speaking at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala, Secretary General Richard Todwong said the party had completed key internal preparations in line with the Electoral Commission’s roadmap and now had candidates in every village for the LC1 chairperson and Women Council elections.
“I can confirm without fear of contradiction that the NRM has flag bearers in all villages for the LC1 chairperson positions and Women Council elections,” Todwong said.
He said the party elected its LC1 flag bearers in May 2025 before holding village barazas on July 10 to fill vacancies left by candidates who withdrew, relocated or died. Between July 11 and 14, parish registrars endorsed nomination papers for party candidates, while the official nomination exercise is running from July 15 to 19.
Todwong described the elections as important for strengthening grassroots governance and supporting implementation of the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM).
He added that the election of LC2 chairpersons was particularly significant because they automatically serve as chairpersons of Parish Development Committees, which oversee implementation of the PDM at the parish level.
Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko said the party had constituted nationwide coordination teams drawn from the NRM Secretariat and other party cadres to work as sub-regional coordinators under the supervision of members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC).
She said the teams would first hold sub-regional meetings with district chairpersons, administrative secretaries, registrars and Members of Parliament before moving to sub-county engagements and eventually village barazas.
Namayanja said the NRM would hold village barazas in every village on July 22 to campaign for its flag bearers, promote unity within the party and mobilise support ahead of polling.
National Treasurer Ambassador Barbara Oundo Nekesa said the Central Executive Committee had approved financial support to facilitate NRM flag bearers during the grassroots campaigns.
She said the mobilisation teams would remain deployed across the country until the Local Council and Women Council electoral process is completed.
NRM Director for Mobilisation Rosemary Sseninde said the exercise had been organised around meetings at sub-regional, sub-county and village levels to ensure consistent coordination and messaging throughout the campaign.