KAMPALA — The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has cautioned party members against contesting as independent candidates in the forthcoming Local Council I (LC1) elections, warning that those who defy official party flag bearers will face disciplinary action.
Addressing journalists while outlining the party's roadmap for the village elections, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong said the party would only recognise candidates who have received official endorsement.
He urged members to unite behind the party's flag bearers rather than challenge them as independents.
“We call upon our members to rally strictly behind the flag bearers and those who have been officially endorsed by the party. We are not going to allow anybody who is not endorsed by the party or anybody who is contesting as an independent against a flag bearer of the party,” Todwong said.
He warned that members who choose to contest outside the party structures would be held accountable under the NRM constitution.
“The party is very serious. We shall not encourage indiscipline. We want to warn those wishing to contest as independents that they are going against the party constitution and definitely the disciplinary committee of the party will hold you accountable,” he said.
The warning comes as political mobilisation gathers pace ahead of the July village elections, which are expected to shape grassroots leadership structures before Uganda's next electoral cycle.
Independent candidates have long presented a challenge for the ruling party, particularly after party primaries, where unsuccessful aspirants often return to contest against official NRM flag bearers.
In previous elections, several independent candidates who were formerly aligned with the NRM have defeated officially endorsed party candidates, exposing internal divisions despite the party's nationwide dominance.
Todwong also outlined the party's timetable leading to the elections.
He urged all eligible NRM supporters to participate in the ongoing verification of residents and compilation of village voters' registers by the Electoral Commission between July 6 and July 10.
According to the Secretary General, separate registers are being compiled for the LC1 elections and the Women Council elections, with the latter consisting only of women aged 18 years and above.
He said the NRM Electoral Commission will convene village barazas on July 10 to fill vacancies where the party lacks flag bearers and to elect candidates for village Women Council executive positions.
The meetings will also confirm LC1 flag bearers in villages where candidates have already been identified.
Successful candidates will undergo the party's official endorsement process between July 11 and July 14.
Todwong explained that endorsement will only be carried out by authorised party leaders, including parish chairpersons, sub-county chairpersons, district chairpersons and the Secretary General, who will stamp nomination forms before candidates proceed to the Electoral Commission.
He stressed that candidates who fail to obtain official endorsement will not be recognised as NRM flag bearers.
The party will hold another round of mobilisation meetings on July 22 ahead of the village Women Council elections on July 23 and the LC1 chairperson elections scheduled for July 28.
Todwong said the NRM already has candidates in most of Uganda's more than 72,000 villages and that the July 10 village assemblies are primarily intended to replace flag bearers who have died, relocated or left the party.
“The party already had most positions filled. The July 10 Baraza will be only to fill gaps where flag bearers might have left,” he said.
According to the Electoral Commission roadmap, elections for LC1 chairpersons will be held on July 28.
