NRM Allocates Shs20.79b to LC1 and Women Council Campaigns

KAMPALA — The ruling National Resistance Movement has released Shs20.79 billion to support its candidates and grassroots mobilisation activities ahead of the Village Women Committee and Local Council I elections.

The money was deposited into NRM district accounts over the weekend and will finance candidate facilitation, sub-county mobilisation meetings, village barazas, transport refunds and administrative expenses.

The Electoral Commission has scheduled the Village Women Committee elections for July 23, 2026, followed by the LC1 chairperson elections on July 28. The elections will beconducted in 71,214 villages across the country.

NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo warned district party leaders that they would be personally responsible for ensuring that the money is distributed according to the approved guidelines.

In a circular to party officials, Nekesa said there should be no misappropriation of the funds or alteration of the distribution guidelines.

The warning comes amid concerns within the party about the adequacy of the allocations, the management of the funds, unresolved internal disputes and security arrangements during the elections.

Shs7.82b allocated to candidates

According to the party’s allocation schedule, Shs7.82 billion will directly facilitate NRM candidates contesting for LC1 chairperson and Village Women Committee positions.

The remaining Shs12.97 billion will finance sub-county mobilisation meetings, transport refunds for delegates, village barazas and other administrative activities.

NRM has separately confirmed that its Central Executive Committee approved what it described as modest financial support for grassroots candidates and deployed senior party officials to coordinate campaign activities across the country.

Under the distribution arrangement, each NRM LC1 flag-bearer in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Luwero and Mpigi will receive Shs100,000. Candidates in the rest of the country will receive Shs50,000 each.

Village Women Committee flag-bearers in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Luwero and Mpigi will each receive Shs20,000. Those contesting in other cities and municipalities will receive Shs15,000, while candidates elsewhere will receive Shs10,000.

NRM communication director Emmanuel Dombo said the amounts were intended to support basic campaign activities rather than turn the grassroots elections into contests determined by money.

“Our proposal was Shs100,000 for all, but the money was not enough,” Dombo said.

The party has also allocated Shs100,000 to every NRM sub-county chairperson to support the transportation and distribution of the funds.

Each district party chairperson, finance secretary and administrative secretary will also receive Shs100,000 to support the management of the funds and other election-related operations.

Lango leaders demand more money

Some NRM leaders in the Lango sub-region have complained that the allocations are insufficient to enable party candidates to compete effectively against the Opposition.

The concerns were raised during a regional mobilisation meeting organised by the NRM Secretariat on Sunday.

Oyam South MP Patrick Obura said Lango remained a competitive political region because of the strong presence of the Uganda People’s Congress.

He proposed that the amount given to every LC1 candidate be increased to at least Shs100,000, arguing that candidates required more financial support to mobilise voters and organise campaign activities.

NRM vice-chairperson for northern Uganda Hamson Obua acknowledged the concerns but asked party leaders to use the available resources responsibly as the party explored possibilities of providing additional support.

Obua warned that internal divisions could give opposition candidates an advantage in the LC1, LC2 and Women Council elections.

Security concerns raised in Busoga

Security arrangements for the village elections have also emerged as a concern among NRM leaders in Busoga.

Bunya South MP Saleh Mpaata questioned how election-related violence would be prevented following the reported withdrawal of police personnel from village posts to sub-county headquarters in his constituency.

Mpaata said police posts serving more than 200 villages and six islands in Mayuge District had been withdrawn.

“What will happen if people indulge in poll violence?” he asked during a regional mobilisation meeting at Fort Lugard Hotel in Iganga.

Deputy Busoga East regional internal security officer Ahmed Hasunira said security agencies had identified possible hotspots and were prepared to maintain order during the elections.

Bugiri Resident District Commissioner Richard Gulume urged party leaders to intensify voter mobilisation instead of relying solely on the NRM’s numerical strength in the region.

Other leaders alleged that opposition parties were spending large amounts of money to influence voters. Those allegations could not be independently verified.

Acholi leaders demand resolution of disputes

In the Acholi sub-region, NRM leaders asked the party’s national leadership to address disputes arising from the January 2026 general election.

They warned that unresolved disagreements could weaken the party’s performance in the village elections.

The concerns were presented during an extraordinary meeting convened by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong in Gulu City. The meeting brought together MPs, Resident District Commissioners, security officials and district party chairpersons.

Some members accused party leaders of abandoning official NRM candidates during the general election and supporting independents.

Todwong said the Secretariat had received petitions seeking the removal of some district party leaders in Gulu, Lamwo and Apac over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of party resources.

He asked members to concentrate on the village elections, promising that the complaints would be investigated after the exercise.

“The LC1 structure is the foundation of the party. We must ensure our candidates win because they play a key role in mobilising support and supervising government programmes at the village level,” Todwong said.

NRM intensifies nationwide mobilisation

NRM has deployed senior leaders to different parts of the country to reconcile divided members, coordinate campaigns and mobilise voters for its official candidates.

The party says the deployment covers Acholi, West Nile, Lango, Karamoja, Bugisu, Bukedi, Greater Masaka, Greater Mubende, Greater Luwero, Greater Mukono, Ankole, Rwenzori, Kigezi and Bunyoro.

The meetings have brought together MPs, district party leaders, LC5 chairpersons, registrars and other officials to harmonise campaign strategies.

NRM officially announced on July 17 that it had deployed nationwide teams to coordinate sub-regional and sub-county meetings before holding village barazas in support of its candidates. The party said its mobilisation teams would remain in the field until the elections were completed.

During a meeting in Bukedi, Nekesa asked party members to put aside disagreements arising from previous internal elections and support the candidates carrying the NRM flag.

She said opposition or independent grassroots leaders could frustrate the implementation of government programmes if they were not aligned with the ruling party.

Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja delivered a similar message in Greater Masaka, urging members to end internal divisions before polling.

The NRM says it has endorsed candidates throughout the country after completing its internal selection and nomination processes. Official nominations were conducted from July 15 to July 19, according to the party’s election programme.

The Village Women Committee elections will be held on Thursday, July 23, while LC1 chairpersons will be elected on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.