Summary:
Dr. Odoi also provided a timeline for the party’s internal elections in preparation for the 2026 general elections.
KAMPALA: The Electoral Commission of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has revealed that the party’s register currently contains 24 million members, some as young as 16 years old.
However, this number is expected to drop to approximately 19.4 million eligible voters following a thorough cleanup exercise.
This was announced by Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, during a press briefing held on Friday at Parliament. The briefing was aimed at updating the media on the outcomes of the NRM Caucus meeting held at the Office of the President in Kampala.
“As of now, the NRM register holds 24 million members, ranging from 16 years of age to the elderly. This figure will be refined during the structured elections process. We shall conduct village-level reviews, Barrazas, where names will be read out, and any doubtful entries or deceased individuals will be removed. After this exercise, the final number is expected to drop,” Dr. Odoi explained.
He further clarified that although the register includes 16- and 17-year-olds, who are not eligible voters, their presence will not impact the final voter count. “The actual number of voters, after exclusions, is estimated to be around 19.4 million,” he said.
Dr. Odoi also provided a timeline for the party’s internal elections in preparation for the 2026 general elections. He noted that the NRM Parliamentary Primary elections are scheduled for July 2025.
“Parliamentary primaries will take place before the elections for LCIII and LCV Chairpersons and Councillors to maintain a clear trajectory. The expression of interest for parliamentary positions will run from June 2 to June 15, 2025. Nominations will follow, with the elections expected on July 16, 2025. LCV elections will be conducted on July 24, 2025,” he said.
On the matter of campaign conduct, Dr. Odoi defended the NRM’s proposal to hold joint campaigns for elective positions, citing Article 44(4) of the NRM Constitution, which frames the party as a family, thus advocating for unity during campaigns.
“We are aware of mudslinging, propaganda, and character assassination. A joint campaign promotes transparency, where candidates can speak openly and respond to each other. It is a campaign within a family and should focus on issues rather than personal attacks or sentiments,” he emphasized.
Dr. Odoi also reaffirmed the independence of the NRM Electoral Commission, stressing that credible elections are vital to maintaining unity within the party.
“Any election that is not free and fair leads to disgruntlement and an increase in independents. In 2020, we had no credible register. Now, we have one that is about 90% complete. The register is a work in progress, but by July, we expect it to be fully credible. If elections are free and fair, there will be no need for members to run as independents,” he stated.
In his remarks, Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua revealed that the NRM Caucus had received and adopted the report from the NRM Secretariat on the party’s voter register and its political roadmap for 2024–2027. The meeting also included a presentation on wealth creation mobilisation strategies.
“The wealth creation presentation aimed to reawaken and mobilize members of the NRM to monitor and support the implementation of the numerous government-funded wealth creation initiatives. It reminded us of our social contract with the people of Uganda and our commitment to economic transformation,” said Obua.
