A total of 1,303 aspirants have expressed interest in contesting for Member of Parliament and District LC V Chairperson positions under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, just two days into the nomination process.
The figures were confirmed by the chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Tanga Odoi, who described the turnout as a positive signal of the party’s enduring appeal.
The cumulative numbers reflect activity on the first day of nominations, Sunday June 2, and Wednesday June 4.
“On day one, 795 aspirants picked nomination forms, and by Wednesday another 508 had done the same. This is a clear indication that the NRM is still a strong and attractive party,” Odoi told journalists during a press briefing at the party’s headquarters in Kampala.
Of the 508 aspirants who picked forms on Wednesday alone, 296 sought nomination for direct constituency MP seats, 132 for Woman MP slots, and 80 for District LC V Chairperson roles.
Ankole Sub-region recorded the highest number of expressions of interest so far, with 72 aspirants across the three positions.
It was followed by Busoga with 66, Bukedi with 63, Greater Masaka at 54, and Teso with 51.
Odoi reiterated that the nomination window remains open and urged all interested party members to pick forms before the deadline.
He also issued a warning to aspirants against engaging in premature campaigns or indiscipline, emphasizing that the internal electoral process must be conducted in a transparent and orderly manner.
“We call on all aspirants to remain disciplined and respect the party’s code of conduct. This process is crucial in determining who represents the party in the 2026 general elections, and we want it to be above reproach,” he said.
The ongoing exercise is part of the NRM’s broader electoral roadmap leading to primary elections scheduled ahead of the 2026 national polls.
These primaries will determine who carries the party’s flag in both parliamentary and district chairperson contests.
With days still remaining in the nomination period, the number of interested candidates is expected to rise, reflecting not only internal competition but also the scale of political mobilisation already underway within Uganda’s most dominant political party.