The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has convened an expanded district conference in Kikuube District to harmonise its position ahead of the LC5 chairperson by-election.
The by-election follows the death of district chairperson Peter Banura Araali, who was the NRM flag bearer.
Addressing the media shortly before the conference on Tuesday, NRM Director for Mobilisation, Dr Rosemary Sseninde, said the meeting had attracted more than 500 leaders from across the district. These included village chairpersons, district executives, councillors-elect, LCIII chairpersons, opinion leaders, and security representatives.
Sseninde said the conference is intended to strengthen party structures and promote unity ahead of the June 10 poll, as scheduled by the Electoral Commission.
“A by-election is not like a general election. It comes with unique challenges, including heightened competition from opposition groups. As a party, we must be organised and fully prepared,” she said.
She emphasised that the NRM Secretariat is not in Kikuube to impose a candidate, but to facilitate consensus among party members.
“We have not come to decide who the flag bearer will be. Our purpose is to promote unity and harmonisation, and to give aspiring candidates a platform to be heard,” Sseninde said.
She added that views collected from the conference will guide the party’s Electoral Commission on whether to organise primary elections or front a consensus candidate.
Sseninde cited a recent case in Soroti, where a similar engagement led to multiple aspirants stepping down in favour of a single consensus candidate.
“If consensus is not reached, the Electoral Commission will organise primaries and provide a clear roadmap for the process,” she added.
