The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders, led by Dr Rosemary Seninde, have commenced a series of strategic parish-based meetings in Kikuube District as campaigns for the Kikuube LC5 by-election officially begin.
The ruling party has fronted Mr Paddy Kisembo as its flag bearer in the highly anticipated by-election, which is scheduled to take place on June 18, 2026.
The election follows the death of former Kikuube District LC5 Chairperson, Mr Peter Banura Araali, who died in a car accident in April 2026.
The mobilisation meeting held on Saturday in Kikuube Town Council brought together party executives and members of the campaign task force, who were urged to prioritise diligence, coordination, and commitment to ensure a successful campaign.
Dr Seninde noted that with limited time remaining before polling day, the party would intensify grassroots mobilisation by delegating leaders at parish and village levels to directly engage voters.
“There is very little time left to conduct campaigns, so we shall focus most of our energies on mobilisation by assigning party leaders in various parishes to spread the campaign message to village leaders, who will in turn reach out to voters directly. Let us do our best to win back this seat,” Seninde said.
She added that the Kikuube party leadership had been entrusted by President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as the NRM National Chairman, to do everything possible to reclaim the district chairperson seat.
Dr Seninde expressed confidence in the parish-based mobilisation strategy, saying it had previously contributed significantly to the party’s success in general elections.
“The deliberate, scientific and calculative strategy will attract as many members as possible,” she said while addressing party leaders during the planning meeting.
She further urged all party structures, from district to village level, to intensify mobilisation efforts.
“We are counting on the efforts of each party leader right from the district, sub-county, parish and village level to rally the population to our cause so as to achieve our target of 50,000 votes in this by-election, and I believe we shall achieve that target,” she added.
NRM candidate Paddy Kisembo said his campaign message would focus on improving household incomes through increased productivity and value addition to agricultural products grown within Kikuube District.
“I have acquired a lot of experience in export trading and fertiliser manufacturing, and I intend to use my leadership to help the population improve their incomes,” Kisembo said.
He also pledged to utilise government road equipment to improve feeder roads in villages to ease the transportation of goods and services across the district.
Kikuube District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Florence Natukunda, urged party members and leaders to remain united despite disagreements arising from the party primaries.
“I know we nominated a different candidate from the one who was elected in the primaries due to challenges regarding the academic qualifications of the previous flag bearer,” Natukunda said.
She appealed to supporters of the former flag bearer to support the party’s officially endorsed candidate.
“I pray for calmness among supporters of the previous flag bearer and ask them to throw their full support behind the nominated candidate. NRM is a bigger and stronger family. I urge party members and the population to fully embrace, campaign for, and vote for Mr Kisembo in the by-election,” she added.
Kisembo will face one opposition candidate in the race for the Kikuube District LC5 chairperson seat.
