The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has today kicked of its nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaigns aimed at consolidating support for its candidates ahead of this month’s Village Women’s Councils and Local Council I (LC I) chairperson elections.
The campaign, officially unveiled by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong in Gulu City on Tuesday, marks the start of Village Barazas that the party says will be held in more than 72,000 villages across the country beginning today (July 22, 2026).
Speaking during the launch at Lajwa Tek Cell in Pageya Ward, in Gulu City, Todwong urged party supporters to participate actively in the village meetings, describing them as a critical platform for strengthening the NRM’s grassroots structures and rallying behind the party’s officially endorsed candidates.
He said grassroots leadership had evolved beyond individual popularity to one centred on party responsibility, accountability and service delivery, arguing that electing NRM candidates would reinforce the Movement’s agenda of transforming communities and improving livelihoods.
Todwong also traced the origins of Uganda’s Local Council system to the Resistance Councils established during the country’s liberation struggle, saying the structures were founded on principles of grassroots participation, unity and people-centred governance that continue to underpin the NRM’s political philosophy.
The mobilisation drive follows the completion of candidate nominations conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission between July 15 and July 19. Candidates are currently campaigning ahead of the Village Women’s Councils elections scheduled for July 23 and the LC I chairperson elections on July 28.
As the party’s chief coordinator of the exercise, Todwong said the Village Barazas are designed to consolidate support for NRM flag bearers while reinforcing village-level party organisation before voters head to the polls.
The NRM has deployed mobilisation teams to all 18 sub-regions to oversee the programme, engage supporters and coordinate campaign activities at the grassroots. Party officials say the initiative is intended to deliver strong electoral performances across the country, maintaining that Local Councils remain the foundation of the Movement’s political organisation and the level of leadership closest to ordinary citizens.
The nationwide rollout was preceded by mobilisation meetings in the Acholi sub-region, where NRM coordinators met party leaders and supporters in Lamogi Sub-county, Amuru District, urging them to turn out in large numbers for the Village Barazas and back the party’s official candidates.
