The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has set aside Shs5 billion to facilitate its flag bearers and prepare for the forthcoming local council elections.
The party has also unveiled its roadmap for the LC1 elections, beginning with nationwide village baraza meetings scheduled for Friday, July 10.
Speaking to journalists, the chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Dr Tanga Odoi, said the village barazas will be held in all the country’s more than 72,000 villages.
He said the meetings are intended to verify party flag bearers for LC1 chairperson and women council positions and fill any gaps where candidates have not yet been identified.
“We have set aside resources to support our members and facilitate the necessary activities. The countrywide barazas are a directive from the NRM National Chairman, President Museveni, and they are mandatory,” Dr Odoi said.
“Our role as the Electoral Commission is to enforce that directive, and I call upon all NRM members to embrace the exercise.”
Dr Odoi said the verification exercise is intended to strengthen the party’s preparations before the local council elections.
He also warned party members against contesting as independent candidates after losing the NRM flag in the primaries.
“All candidates must participate and compete for the party flag. After the primaries, no one should contest as an independent candidate,” he said.
He advised aspirants who may wish to step down from the race to do so through mutual agreement with fellow contestants instead of defying the party’s position.
Dr Odoi said the NRM is confident of performing strongly in the forthcoming local council elections because of its extensive grassroots structures.
“We are now embarking on massive mobilisation using our structures in every village. We are the only political party in the country that can field candidates in virtually every village, unlike other parties,” he said.
The national local council elections are scheduled for July 28. Voter registration and other preparatory activities are already underway across the country.
