The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has directed all its members across Uganda to attend village barazas on Friday, July 10, to verify and, where necessary, replace the party’s flag bearers for the upcoming Local Council One (LC1) chairperson and Women Council elections.
Addressing journalists, the Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Dr. Tanga Odoi, said the exercise will be conducted simultaneously in all 72,000 villages starting at 10:00 a.m.
He described the exercise as a critical step in preparing the party for the Electoral Commission’s Women Council elections scheduled for July 23 and the nationwide LC1 elections due on July 28.
According to Odoi, the village barazas will confirm whether the party’s LC1 flag bearers elected in 2025 and Women Council flag bearers elected in 2022 are still alive, eligible and willing to contest under the NRM ticket.
He said the meetings will also allow party members to fill vacancies created by death, resignation or withdrawal of candidates before the official elections.
Where members fail to agree on a replacement through consensus, Odoi said voting will be conducted by lining up behind candidates under the supervision of NRM electoral officials.
He urged all NRM supporters to prioritise attendance at the village meetings, saying the exercise is essential for strengthening the party’s grassroots structures and ensuring it fields candidates in every village across the country.
Following the July 10 verification exercise, the updated list of NRM flag bearers will be submitted to the party’s Secretary General for endorsement between July 11 and July 14 before the next phase of the electoral roadmap begins.
Odoi also cautioned party members against contesting as independent candidates after failing to secure the party flag, insisting that all elective positions should be contested by officially endorsed NRM flag bearers.
He further reminded all aspirants that they must appear on the national voters’ register maintained by the Electoral Commission to qualify for nomination and participation in both the Women Council and LC1 elections.
The NRM Electoral Commission chairperson revealed that the party expects to spend about UGX 5 billion on conducting its LC1, LC2 and Women Council electoral processes.
He said the funds will be raised from nomination fees collected during the recent expression of interest process for parliamentary positions.
Describing the LC1 elections as the most competitive level of the party’s internal electoral process, Odoi said the contests offer a clear indication of the NRM’s grassroots support and organisational strength across Uganda.
