The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has allocated Shs5 billion to support preparations for the upcoming Local Council One (LC1), Local Council Two (LC2) and Women Council elections as the ruling party begins a nationwide exercise to verify its candidates ahead of the national electoral process.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi said the funds are part of about Shs11 billion collected by the party through expressions of interest from aspirants during previous internal elections.
“We are going to use Shs5 billion to fill positions of LC1, LC2 and Women Councils up to the national level,” Dr. Tanga said, adding that the funds will support party flag bearers and provide election materials across more than 72,000 villages in the country.
He defended the allocation, saying the money was necessary to facilitate the extensive exercise.
“Shs5 billion is really less money. We have 72,000 villages. Flag bearers must be facilitated, and election materials have to be provided,” he said.
The NRM Electoral Commission said the first major activity on its roadmap will take place on July 10, when party members will gather at village barazas starting at 10 a.m.
The meetings are intended to verify whether candidates previously selected as NRM flag bearers for LC1 chairperson positions in 2025 and Women Council representatives in 2023 are still alive, willing and available to contest on the party ticket.
“Where a flag bearer has died, withdrawn from the race or is no longer interested, party members will select a replacement during the village meeting,” Dr. Tanga said.
The verification exercise will be supervised by NRM Electoral Commission registrars at village level, supported by polling assistants and overseen by parish registrars, district election officers and regional supervisors.
The commission urged all NRM members to participate in the meetings, describing the exercise as critical in ensuring the party presents verified candidates for the elections.
Where members reach consensus on a candidate, the flag bearer will be endorsed without voting. However, in cases where consensus fails, members will vote by lining up behind their preferred candidate.
After the village meetings, the verified names will be submitted to the office of the NRM Secretary General for endorsement between July 11 and July 14, before nominations at sub-county level from July 15 to July 19.
The party’s candidates will then participate in the national electoral process, with Village Women Council elections scheduled for July 23 and LC1 elections set for July 28.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tanga cautioned NRM members against contesting as independents after losing internal party elections, urging them to resolve disputes through party structures.
“We are not encouraging any independent to stand against NRM. If you have an issue with the person who got the flag, negotiate within the party. Don’t come as an independent against our flag bearers,” he said.
The commission also urged party members to verify their voter registration details before the exercise closes, warning that individuals whose names are missing from the national register will not be eligible to vote or contest.
