NRM Sets Aside Shs5 Billion for LC1, LC2, Women Council Elections
By Kyeyune Ali
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has earmarked Shs5 billion to facilitate preparations for the forthcoming Local Council One (LC1), Local Council Two (LC2) and Women Council elections as the ruling party begins a nationwide exercise to verify its candidates.
The funds will finance the verification exercise, facilitate party flag bearers and provide election materials across more than 72,000 villages countrywide, according to NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi.
Speaking to journalists, Dr. Tanga said the money is part of approximately Shs11 billion the party raised through expressions of interest paid by aspirants during previous internal elections.
“We are going to use Shs5 billion to fill positions of LC1, LC2 and Women Councils up to the national level,” he said.
Defending the expenditure, Dr. Tanga argued that the amount was modest considering the scale of the exercise.
“Shs5 billion is really less money. We have 72,000 villages. Flag bearers must be facilitated, and election materials have to be provided,” he said.
He announced that the first major activity on the party’s electoral roadmap will take place on July 10, when NRM members will convene at village barazas beginning at 10:00 a.m. to verify candidates.
According to Dr. Tanga, the meetings will confirm whether candidates previously selected as NRM flag bearers for LC1 chairperson positions in 2025 and Women Council representatives in 2023 are still alive, willing and available to contest on the party ticket.
“Where a flag bearer has died, withdrawn from the race or is no longer interested, party members will select a replacement during the village meeting,” he explained.
The verification exercise will be supervised by NRM Electoral Commission registrars at village level, assisted by polling assistants and overseen by parish registrars, district election officers and regional supervisors.
The commission urged all NRM members to participate in the exercise, describing it as essential in ensuring the party fields duly verified candidates for the elections.
Dr. Tanga said candidates who secure consensus at the village meetings will be endorsed without a vote. However, where consensus cannot be reached, members will elect their preferred flag bearer through the traditional lining-up method.
Following the village meetings, the verified lists of candidates will be submitted to the Office of the NRM Secretary General for endorsement between July 11 and July 14. Official nominations at sub-county level will then take place from July 15 to July 19.
Under the Electoral Commission programme, Village Women Council elections are scheduled for July 23, while LC1 elections will be held on July 28.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tanga cautioned party members against contesting as independent candidates after losing NRM primaries, urging them instead to resolve disagreements through established party structures.
“We are not encouraging any independent to stand against NRM. If you have an issue with the person who got the flag, negotiate within the party. Don’t come as an independent against our flag bearers,” he warned.
The commission also appealed to all party members to verify their voter registration details before the verification exercise concludes, warning that anyone whose name is missing from the voters’ register will neither be allowed to vote nor contest in the elections.