The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has completed the identification and endorsement of its flag bearers for the forthcoming Village Women Council and Local Council I (LC1) elections, with the party calling on members to actively participate in the electoral process and rally behind its candidates.
Addressing journalists at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala on Tuesday, the party’s Secretary General, Richard Todwong, said the party had successfully concluded village barazas where members elected and validated flag bearers before endorsing their nomination forms on July 13 and 14.
Todwong urged all NRM members to take advantage of the ongoing display of the village voters’ registers by the Electoral Commission to verify their details and ensure they are eligible to vote.
He announced that candidates for LC1 Chairperson and Village Women Council positions will be officially nominated between July 16 and 19, urging all NRM flag bearers to report to their respective sub-county headquarters with their endorsed nomination forms.
To strengthen support for its candidates, Todwong said the party will conduct another round of village barazas on July 22 ahead of the Village Women Council elections scheduled for July 23.
He explained that the Village Women Council elections will fill five leadership positions: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, and Secretary for Publicity. The elected village chairpersons will then participate in electing women leaders at the parish, sub-county, district and national levels, strengthening the party’s grassroots leadership structure.
Speaking about the LC1 elections slated for July 28, Todwong described the office of LC1 Chairperson as the foundation of Uganda’s decentralised governance system, noting that the Resistance Council structure introduced by the NRM empowered communities to elect their own local leaders.
“The LC1 is the first level of leadership in the village. These leaders represent the people’s views, work with government to implement development programmes and help address community challenges. It is therefore important that Ugandans elect leaders who are honest, trusted and committed to serving their communities,” Todwong said.
He congratulated all NRM flag bearers who emerged victorious during the party’s internal elections and expressed confidence that the ruling party would perform strongly in the upcoming grassroots polls.
“The NRM has completed its preparations. Our flag bearers are in place, our structures are ready, and we call upon all our members to turn up in large numbers, participate peacefully and support the party’s candidates,” he said.
