The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is intensifying preparations for the 2026 general elections in Kampala, emphasizing reconciliation and unity among party members.
Acknowledging past electoral setbacks in the capital, party leaders admit that internal divisions have consistently undermined the NRM’s otherwise extensive organizational structure.
During a mobilization meeting, Salim Uhuru Nsubuga, NRM Vice Chairperson for the Kampala region, urged members to set aside old grievances and rally behind President Yoweri Museveni and other party flag bearers.
Uhuru, currently the only NRM mayor in Kampala as the Mayor of Kampala Central Division, stressed that unity is key to leveraging the party’s grassroots presence.
“Let us move as one family. This is the only way we can win because we have the structures and the numbers right from the village level to the district,” he said.
He highlighted the party’s under-representation in the city, noting that of the 85 Lord Councillors in the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), only two belong to the NRM.
To reverse past losses, the party is rolling out a new campaign strategy that empowers village-level structures to lead vote mobilization. Uhuru announced that this “door-to-door strategy” is a first for the party, with local leaders tasked to reach every household, particularly in key divisions like Makindye and Nakawa.
Rose Namayanja Nsereko, the NRM Deputy Secretary General, echoed the call for unity while unveiling the party’s flag bearers. She cautioned that internal divisions weaken electoral prospects and reminded members to “tick the bus,” the party’s official symbol, as they prepare to face seven presidential challengers, including Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform.
Moses Kizito Nsubuga, the NRM candidate for Kampala Lord Mayor, described the approach as a “fresh start,” calling for a focus on development rather than the “politics of sympathy” to address the city’s longstanding challenges.
A key component of the mobilization campaign is educating urban residents about government development programs. State House Comptroller Jane Barekye noted low awareness of initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and funds allocated to “ghetto structures” and boda boda SACCOs, each receiving Sh100 million.
Barekye urged leaders to go “home to home, stage to stage” to ensure targeted groups benefit. Amina Lukanga Nanziri, NRM flag bearer for Kampala Woman MP, emphasized that empowering these long-neglected local structures is vital for reversing past electoral misfortunes.
The NRM’s top leadership, including President Museveni, has endorsed letting village structures lead the mobilization effort ahead of the January 15, 2026 elections, aiming to secure both the presidential vote and a supportive team for governance and development in Kampala.