The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has concluded the identification and endorsement of its flag bearers for the forthcoming Village Women Council and Local Council I (LC1) elections, with Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong calling on party members to actively participate in the electoral process and rally behind the party’s candidates.
Speaking to journalists at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala, Todwong said the party had successfully conducted village barazas across the country to elect and validate its flag bearers. He noted that the candidates’ nomination forms were endorsed on July 13 and 14, paving the way for their official nomination by the Electoral Commission.
Todwong urged all NRM supporters to participate in the ongoing display of the village voters’ registers and verify that their details are correctly captured to avoid being left out of the electoral process.
He said candidates for the LC1 Chairperson and Village Women Council positions will be officially nominated between July 16 and 19. He advised all NRM flag bearers to report to their respective sub-county headquarters with their duly endorsed nomination forms for the nomination exercise.
Ahead of the Village Women Council elections scheduled for July 23, Todwong announced that the party will convene another round of village barazas on July 22 to mobilise support for its candidates.
He explained that the Village Women Council elections will fill five key positions: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, and Secretary for Publicity. The elected village women chairpersons will subsequently participate in electing women leaders at the parish, sub-county, district, and national levels, creating a structured leadership system that extends from the grassroots to the national level.
Turning to the LC1 elections slated for July 28, Todwong described the office of the LC1 Chairperson as the cornerstone of Uganda’s decentralised governance system. He said the Resistance Council system introduced by the NRM empowered communities to elect their own local leaders, replacing the previous system of centrally appointed administrators.
“The LC1 is the first level of leadership in the village. These leaders represent the people’s views, work with government to implement development programmes and help address community challenges. It is therefore important that Ugandans elect leaders who are honest, trusted and committed to serving their communities,” Todwong said.
He congratulated all NRM flag bearers who emerged victorious during the party’s internal elections and expressed confidence that the ruling party would register a strong performance in the forthcoming polls.
“The NRM has completed its preparations. Our flag bearers are in place, our structures are ready, and we call upon all our members to turn up in large numbers, participate peacefully and support the party’s candidates,” he said.
