The Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Richard Todwong, has warned party members against contesting as independent candidates in the upcoming Local Council I (LC1) chairpersons’ elections, saying the party will take disciplinary action against those who violate its constitution.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the LC1 elections scheduled for 28 July, Todwong said the NRM is finalizing preparations by filling leadership gaps in villages where party flag bearers are no longer available.
He explained that while the party already has elected candidates in most villages, some vacancies have emerged after some leaders relocated, died, or joined other political parties.
“The assembly on the 10th is intended to fill those gaps and ensure that no village is left unattended,” Todwong said.
He revealed that the party will send official messages from NRM National Chairman and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to party members, highlighting the importance of the LC1 elections to both the party and the country.
The Secretary General’s office will also issue guidelines outlining the dos and don’ts during the electoral process.
Todwong urged all NRM supporters to rally behind officially endorsed party flag bearers, stressing that the party would not tolerate indiscipline.
“We do not support independent candidates. We call upon all our members to stand firmly behind the party flag bearers. Anyone contesting as an independent against an official NRM candidate is acting contrary to the party constitution,” he said.
He warned that members who choose to contest independently risk facing the party’s disciplinary committee.
The Secretary General also outlined the endorsement process for NRM candidates seeking nomination by the Electoral Commission. He said all nomination forms must first be endorsed and stamped by the party before submission.
According to Todwong, endorsements will be conducted by party leaders appointed by the Secretary General, including parish chairpersons, sub-county chairpersons, district chairpersons and the Secretary General.
He advised all candidates who have been selected as NRM flag bearers to obtain the official party stamp through their parish or sub-county party offices before presenting their nomination papers to the Electoral Commission.
