The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has set a target of securing more than 70 percent of the vote in the forthcoming Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election as party leaders intensify grassroots mobilisation efforts across the island district.
Speaking after a meeting with women leaders in Mugoye Sub-county on Saturday, NRM Director for Mobilisation Rosemary Sseninde expressed confidence that the party’s candidate, Idah Nabayiga, will emerge victorious, citing strong support from voters and sustained mobilisation by party structures on the ground.
“We are targeting not less than 70 percent. Any person would say they want 100 percent, although it can never be. But of course, we are targeting not less than 70 percent,” Sseninde said.
She attributed the party’s optimism to extensive mobilisation efforts that have seen NRM leaders engage communities throughout Kalangala ahead of the by-election.
“We have mobilised the people and I want to thank my colleagues who have been on the ground. We have worked with the leaders, and I want to thank the people of Kalangala for the cooperation and coordination that have given us hope that we are going to win this election,” she said.
Sseninde noted that the ruling party is confident of registering a decisive victory and strengthening its political presence in the district.
As part of the campaign strategy, she said the NRM has been engaging women leaders at different levels to encourage voter turnout and participation in President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rally scheduled for Monday.
“We have been meeting women leaders because they play a critical role in elections. Women are always very active in voting, and we have been encouraging their leaders to mobilise women in the villages to vote and also attend the President’s rally,” she said.
She urged residents to support leaders who can work closely with the government to advance development programmes rather than those who oppose government initiatives.
Sseninde also called on women leaders to sensitise communities about government wealth-creation programmes, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that many eligible beneficiaries fail to access support due to limited information.
“It is important for us to keep enlightening them and guiding them on how they can access this support,” she said.
National Women’s Council Chairperson Faridah Kibowa, who also attended the meeting, said the women of Kalangala need a representative who can effectively engage government departments and lobby for development opportunities for the district.
Kibowa said women in the district had become more informed about the by-election and had pledged to rally behind Nabayiga’s candidature.
She expressed confidence that the NRM candidate would receive strong support from women voters across the district.
