The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has announced plans to construct offices in 21 districts across the country as part of efforts to strengthen its structures and improve service delivery at the grassroots.
The construction programme will cover districts in the Karamoja, Central, Western and Northern regions, with the party saying the projects will be implemented in phases.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong announced the plan while addressing journalists at the party’s national headquarters in Kyadondo, Kampala.
He said the construction programme had been in the pipeline for some time and would be financed using money collected from party members during the expression of interest exercise for candidates seeking to contest in the party primaries ahead of the recently concluded elections.
Todwong said the party had identified 21 districts where construction would begin, adding that Luwero was among the areas where groundbreaking activities had already taken place.
Other districts earmarked for the projects include Busia, Kazo, Gomba, Moyo, Nwoya and Masaka, among others.
The party has prioritised districts where members and supporters donated land for the construction of the offices. The initial phase will cover selected districts in the Central, Eastern, Northern and Western regions.
Todwong said the party intends to establish permanent offices in every district but will implement the programme gradually.
He added that the secretariat had identified local construction companies that would be considered for the contracts to give businesses in the beneficiary districts an opportunity to participate in the project.
“We are going to give local contractors in the respective districts an opportunity to construct our offices. We also have plans to officially unveil the construction of our national headquarters here in Kampala,” Todwong said.
Meanwhile, NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo said all the district offices would follow a standard architectural design to ensure uniformity in their appearance and facilities.
She said each office would cost between Shs150 million and Shs200 million, depending on the requirements and conditions at the construction site.
Nekesa said the party would only award contracts to competent and qualified construction companies after conducting due diligence to establish their professional capacity and suitability for the work.
She added that regional supervision teams would be established to monitor construction, ensure value for money and maintain the required standards.
The teams will also oversee the contractors’ work to ensure that the buildings are completed according to the approved designs and within the expected timelines.
Nekesa further warned party members who had donated land for the construction of district offices to ensure that the properties have proper ownership documents.
She said the party would verify the ownership of all donated land to avoid future disputes that could interfere with the projects.
She also commended NRM members who had already contributed land and completed office buildings in different parts of the country, saying their support had helped the party establish a permanent presence in the districts.
The party has previously received completed office buildings donated by members in districts including Ngora, Mayuge, Gulu, Kween, Buhweju, Bugiri, Bukedea, Sironko and Kakumiro.
