By Jumah Kakomo
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has made a powerful appeal for internal cohesion, dispatching senior officials across the country with a unified mission centred on grassroots mobilisation ahead of the upcoming Village Women Council and Local Council I (LC I) elections.
Over the weekend, top NRM Secretariat leaders spread out nationwide, holding sub-regional entry meetings in Acholi, West Nile, Lango, Bugisu, Karamoja, Bukedi, Greater Masaka, Greater Mubende, Greater Luwero, Greater Mukono, Ankole, Rwenzori, Kigezi, and Bunyoro. The gatherings brought together Members of Parliament, district party chairs, LC V leaders, and other officials to align their campaign strategies and galvanise support for the party’s endorsed candidates.
A resounding theme across every meeting was clear: the party’s power starts in the villages, and success at the grassroots level hinges on staying united.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Acholi sub-regional meeting in Gulu City, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong described LC I chairpersons as the bedrock of both the party and the nation’s leadership structure.
“Every village consists of households, and within the NRM, LC I chairpersons serve as household leaders for the party. They form the bridge between the population and the leadership, reaching communities even where the President cannot personally go,” Todwong stated.
He stressed that robust village structures are vital for keeping a healthy party organisation that can effectively serve communities and sustain the NRM’s expansion. He added that the party had already selected LC I flag bearers in nearly all villages, and the priority now is to secure their wins in the coming elections.
Todwong, however, expressed alarm at reports that some party figures are secretly funding independent candidates to contest against officially nominated NRM flag bearers.
“We have intelligence concerning this political disease where established leaders sabotage the party by backing independents against our chosen candidates,” he cautioned, calling on leaders to abandon actions that fracture party unity.
The Secretary General also reflected on internal reforms at the Secretariat, noting that the party had moved past years of financial distress. He disclosed that all legacy debts from previous election cycles had been cleared, paving the way for the NRM to construct permanent district offices countrywide.
Todwong revealed that Shs11 billion collected through expression of interest fees has been earmarked specifically for building district offices, while regional hubs and a new national headquarters are also in the pipeline as part of efforts to decentralise party operations.
The unity message resonated in Greater Masaka, where Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja urged members to put an end to internal rifts before the LC I and Village Women Council elections. Addressing party leaders, Namayanja argued that the NRM’s biggest obstacle isn’t the political opposition but rather internal conflicts that have previously handed electoral victories away. She noted how many members who were defeated in party primaries later ran as independents, splitting the NRM vote in several constituencies even though voters viewed both groups as belonging to the same party.
“The opposition is not the NRM’s greatest threat. Our biggest problem is ourselves because we undermine and fight each other,” Namayanja said, warning leaders against meddling with officially endorsed candidates.
In Bukedi, National Treasurer Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo called for intensified grassroots mobilisation, describing villages as the foundation of the party’s organisational muscle. She emphasised that while national elections often capture more public attention, Local Council elections are equally important because they directly shape service delivery and the implementation of government programmes. “The village is where our strength starts, and we must stay connected with our people through vibrant grassroots structures,” she said, encouraging leaders to use scheduled village barazas before polling day to promote NRM candidates.
In Bugisu, the NRM wrapped up its sub-regional entry meeting in Mbale City with a renewed call for unity while honouring veteran statesman Gen. Moses Ali, whose death was described as a profound national loss. Addressing the media afterwards, NRM Director of Communication Emmanuel Lumala Dombo said the nationwide engagements were designed to prepare MPs, district leaders, LC V chairpersons, and other officials for the grassroots elections while delivering President Yoweri Museveni’s message on unity, mobilisation, and serving the people.
Dombo conveyed that President Museveni expressed gratitude to NRM supporters for their sustained trust in the party and urged leaders to stay focused on wealth creation, poverty eradication, peace, and national unity as Uganda works towards becoming a 500-billion-dollar economy. The President stressed that peace and stability are the bedrock of development and called on leaders to continue backing government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, while championing national reconciliation and regional integration. Dombo also encouraged all eligible women and voters to take part in the Village Women Council elections on July 23 and the LC I Chairperson elections on July 28, noting that these grassroots polls are crucial for strengthening the party’s foundations.
The mobilisation campaign also touched West Nile, where Director of Finance Hajjati Medina Naham thanked residents for their overwhelming support during the recent general elections and urged them to show the same dedication in the LC I polls. In the Kampala Metropolitan area, Director of Mobilization and Cadre Development Hon. Dr. Nansubuga Rosemary Seninde, who also leads the area team, spearheaded party efforts, reinforcing the unity and grassroots organisation message.
Other speakers, including NRM National Women’s League chairperson Hon. Aldrine Kobusingye, Deputy National Treasurer Hon. Jacqueline Kyatuhaire in Kigezi, Director for External Affairs Awich Pollar, Director of Youth and Institutions Okwir Rwabwoni, NRM Electoral Commission Deputy Chairperson Jachan Omach, and commissioners Hon. Driwaru Zaituni, Hon. James Williams Kinobe, Hon. Juliana Modesta, and Hon. Tweheyo James, all stressed that strong village leadership is the party’s cornerstone and cautioned against bankrolling independent candidates.
In Karamoja, leaders rallied members to remain united behind President Museveni and the party hierarchy while working as a team to deliver victory for all NRM flag bearers. They emphasised that grassroots mobilisation, discipline, and teamwork were key to safeguarding the party’s gains and reinforcing its structures throughout the region.
A similar message was delivered in Bunyoro, where President Museveni, through Director for Legal Affairs Counsel Enoch Barata, urged Ugandans to embrace the forthcoming village and women council elections. The President noted that village leadership plays a vital role in fighting poverty, monitoring service delivery, supporting wealth creation programmes, and tackling corruption at the community level.
The nationwide push comes ahead of the Village Women Council elections on July 23 and the LC I Chairperson elections on July 28. Party leaders say the drive aims to energise grassroots structures, cement internal cohesion, and maximise voter participation. With the Secretariat insisting that victory starts in the village, the NRM leadership has called on members everywhere to stay united, back official flag bearers, and shun any actions that could harm the party’s chances as the grassroots elections draw near.
