By Andrew VM Naimanye
Aspiring Central Executive Committee (CEC) member for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Western Uganda, Jonard Asiimwe, has called for a reinvigoration of the party’s top decision-making body.
He urged the CEC to return to its core mandate of strengthening internal structures and clarifying the party’s ideological foundation.
Speaking on NBS Morning Breeze on Wednesday, Asiimwe reflected on the evolving dynamics within NRM, noting that the current CEC race is more competitive than in previous years—a sign, he suggested, of growing interest and maturity within the party.
“In the past, it wasn’t that competitive. But now, everyone wants to be in the party leadership. This could signify the growth of NRM,” he said.
Despite his long tenure within party structures, including serving as a parliamentary flag bearer for Hoima City, Asiimwe expressed concern over what he described as poor “electoral hygiene” in internal party elections.
“I’ve been part of NRM structures for a long time, so the competitiveness of the CEC race does not surprise me. But the electoral hygiene is still lacking,” he said.
Asiimwe likened the current state of the CEC to a kitchen abandoned by its chefs.
“CEC is like a kitchen or laboratory—it’s where research is done, ideas refined, and party direction shaped. If you leave your chefs in the sitting room dining with guests instead of in the kitchen, don’t be surprised if the food gets burnt.”
He pointed to the dual responsibilities of many current CEC members—who also serve as ministers or MPs—as a major cause of “absenteeism” that undermines the committee’s effectiveness.
“The CEC is not a public-facing position. It requires time, research, and internal coordination. I am in this race to end the absenteeism in the CEC.”
Asiimwe emphasized that members must dedicate themselves fully to their CEC roles and suggested that, going forward, they should be barred from elective politics to focus solely on party-building.
“You can’t be a CEC member and spend five years without meeting your regional party heads. These structures should be active not only during elections.”
On campaign ethics, he warned against the monetization of internal party campaigns, drawing a clear line between having resources and misusing them.
“There is a difference between having money and misusing it. It’s wrong to meet people and distribute money as a campaign tool.”
Asiimwe also pointed to the CEC’s failure to engage regularly with grassroots structures as a factor in the dilution of NRM’s founding ideology.
“There is a misunderstanding of the ideology that explains why the party exists. Among the core reasons was to preserve unity and maintain loyalty. When this ideology is misunderstood, the CEC must step in and organise the house.”