Combined Pressure Groups Uganda, an umbrella organisation of groups mobilising support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), has demanded a meeting with party chairman Yoweri Museveni, saying their concerns have been ignored despite their role in mobilising votes for the party.
The groups claim they have played a significant role in rallying support for the NRM across different parts of the country but are increasingly being sidelined and, in some cases, chased away from official party mobilisation programmes.
“We want to meet him such that he can listen to our concerns, yet we are the ones mobilising for his votes, mobilising people to join the Movement,” said Monica Adegi, the leader of Combined Pressure Groups Uganda.
Members of the groups say they are not formally recognised within the party structure, despite operating at grassroots level and facing hostility from political opponents during mobilisation activities.
“We have put pressure to mobilise support for NRM. Sometimes we are even attacked by opponents. People block us from meeting our targets,” said Charity Abenitwe from Kawempe.
Similar concerns were echoed by Hawa Shafi Naigaga Moureen, a member of an NRM mobilisation pressure group in Busoga, who said the groups are seeking a direct audience with the party chairman to air their grievances.
“Museveni ku ntiko,” she said, meaning Museveni is the way, adding that the groups remain loyal to the president but want their contribution recognised.
Hasfah Zawedde from Hakuna Mchezo, another pressure group aligned to the NRM, said the groups are simply asking for an opportunity to be heard.
“Give us a minute and we meet,” she said.
The NRM leadership had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.
President Museveni, who is also the NRM chairman, has in recent weeks been traversing different parts of the country campaigning ahead of the 2026 general elections.