With the National Resistance Movement (NRM) village elections set to take place tomorrow in over 72,000 villages across Uganda, the party’s Electoral Commission Chairperson, Tanga Odoi, has issued a rallying call to all party members to actively participate in both the morning barazas and the afternoon vote.
The elections will see the selection of local NRM leaders and LC1 flag bearers, a process he described as foundational to the party’s internal democracy and 2026 electoral strategy.
“These structure leaders of a mass party are the ones who audit government at the village level,” Tanga said, underscoring the oversight role played by grassroots cadres.
The day will start with barazas—village-level community meetings from 8 am to 10 am—where NRM supporters will scrutinise and validate the party voter register.
These open-air sessions, Tanga explained, are critical in rooting out non-party members and opposition infiltrators from the electoral process.
“No new registration will be done,” he clarified, adding that only those already on the register and approved by their communities will be allowed to vote.
Voting will then proceed from 12 noon to 2 pm. Each village is expected to elect 30 leaders, including the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary for Treasury, Secretary for Publicity, and Secretary for Finance.
In addition, five leaders will be chosen in each of the Youth League, Elders League, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) structures.
The polls will be held by lining up behind candidates, a method the NRM has used in previous internal elections.
According to Tanga, anyone aged 18 and above listed in the party’s verified register is eligible to vote for mainstream positions.
For youth league elections, only those below 35 years qualify. He cautioned that alienating the youth would hand a political advantage to rival parties.
“If you block out that group, they go to NUP. They are 4.2 million,” he said, referring to the opposition National Unity Platform’s youth-driven base.
Tanga also stressed the strategic importance of the exercise, claiming the party already commands 2.1 million core supporters and can potentially mobilise over 4.2 million votes by factoring in their children who are now of voting age.
“If we organise our base, the opposition stands no chance,” he said confidently.
The NRM’s internal elections come with strict conditions. Campaigning is not permitted on the day of the vote, but the barazas are expected to double as platforms for community dialogue and voter sensitisation.
Village registrars have been deployed to manage proceedings and ensure order.
Security has also been heightened, with deployments expected across polling centres to prevent disruptions.
In cases of confusion over candidate eligibility or incomplete structures, members have been instructed to report directly to the Electoral Commission for resolution.
Tanga closed with a cautionary note to ambitious politicians seeking future positions.
“If the register is wrong, it will affect you,” he said, addressing aspirants for parliamentary and other offices who may overlook the importance of village-level mobilisation.
Rubirizi District is the only area excluded from the election exercise for unspecified logistical reasons.