NRM supporters should pay party subscription fee, says presidential advisor Kamuntu

________________

SHEEMA - All National Resistance Movement party supporters should start paying subscription fees to be recognised, senior presidential advisor on manifesto implementation Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu has said.

Kamuntu, who is also the Sheema South parliamentary seat NRM flag-bearer, proposed while addressing a meeting of party leaders and flag-bearers from across Sheema at the district council hall on Monday, August 18, 2025.

“The NRM has been an inclusive, historical mass party, present in every village in the country. That has never happened before in Uganda’s political history. To consolidate this strength, party members must begin paying subscription fees,” Kamuntu said.

He added that with Uganda now classified as a lower-middle-income country, citizens are capable of financially supporting institutions they belong to.

“Our country is now a middle-income country. People have money. Therefore, being a member of the party without paying a single amount is not sustainable,” he said. “You must subscribe to the party in terms of ideas, and you must subscribe to the party in terms of cash.”

Currently, the NRM constitution does not require supporters to pay subscription fees. However, Kamuntu believes that even small contributions from members could help fund party activities, especially at the grassroots level.

The meeting was held ahead of the NRM delegates conference scheduled to take place in Kampala next week. The conference is expected to bring together delegates from across the country to discuss party matters as preparations begin for the 2026 General Election. During the conference, party central executive committee members are also expected to be voted.

The Sheema meeting was attended by all NRM flag-bearers, including councillors at all levels, the municipality mayor, Members of Parliament, the LC5 chairperson, and sub-county NRM chairpersons.

During the same meeting, Sheema district NRM chairperson Richard Muhangi Bigirwa condemned the growing commercialisation of politics, which he said was evident in the recently concluded NRM primaries.

“If this continues, we risk choosing leaders who are not competent,” Bigirwa warned.

“We must elect leaders based on their ability and commitment, not how much money they can spend.”

Bigirwa also encouraged NRM leaders and supporters to actively engage in agriculture, especially by adopting the four-acre model as a way of improving household income and ensuring sustainability.

“As leaders, we must lead by example. Let us embrace agriculture to support our families,” he said. “The four-acre model is a practical approach that every homestead can adopt to fight poverty.”