NRM sets stringent guidelines for CEC members

KAMPALA - The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has set stringent guidelines for all candidates vying to be part of the party’s top organ: Central Executive Committee (CEC).

While addressing the media on June 16, 2025, at the party's electoral commission offices in Nakasero, Kampala city, electoral body chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi said that for any candidate to be nominated for any CEC position, they must have no criminal record for the past 10 years. 

“One must not have been involved in perjury, falsification of documents. If we get you to have been party to the falsification of documents, I am warning you. Don’t come here,” Odoi said, adding that the party is duty bound to call on Uganda Revenue Authority, Director General of Internal Security Organisation (ISO) to give us a profile report on all candidates.

“A political party in power must lead by example. So, once we nominate all candidates, even those contesting for MP, we first have to verify their records with UNEB, district intelligence system, and this is why we want to get the names early,” Odoi said.

He added that the party does not want to get someone to say that they have been eliminated from the race.

According to the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, a candidate can be disqualified from being elected as MP if they have been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude within the seven years preceding the election, or if they are under a sentence of imprisonment exceeding nine months.

Odoi noted that the other guidelines for one to be eligible to contest for CEC are, one must be 18 years and above, must be a registered party member, must be registered in the National Voter Register, must be a person of proven integrity, must have a track record of service in the NRM, must pay a non-refundable expression of interest fee.

Odoi said the expression of interest and picking of nomination forms for all potential CEC members and executives of special organs will commence on June 26 to July 1, adding that party EC offices will be open from Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

On Monday, Speaker of Parliament Antia Among (Bukedea Woman MP) and information minister Chris Baryomunsi (Kikinzi East MP) were also nominated to contest for MP party flag in the party primaries joining Vice-President Jessica Alupo, security minister Jim Muhwezi and ethics state minister Lillian Akello who were nominated on Friday.