Todwong demands full delivery of sh100,000 to every NRM village structure
The ruling party has disbursed more than sh7 billion to its district structures and instructed district party secretaries to immediately withdraw the funds from party bank accounts and channel them through sub-county leaders to every village. Each village is expected to receive sh100,000.
NRM secretary general Richard Todwong. (File photo)
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NRM secretary general Richard Todwong has directed police in the Acholi sub-region to arrest party leaders who misuse the sh100,000 allocated to each of the party's 71,214 village structures.
Todwong said the money is intended to facilitate village barazas scheduled for Wednesday ahead of the Women Council elections.
The ruling party has disbursed more than sh7 billion to its district structures and instructed district party secretaries to immediately withdraw the funds from party bank accounts and channel them through sub-county leaders to every village. Each village is expected to receive sh100,000.
According to Todwong, the party has repeatedly received complaints that money sent for mobilisation and organising village meetings during previous elections failed to reach the intended beneficiaries.
"This time, every village must receive the full sh100,000," he said, warning that any party leader or individual who diverts or withholds the money will be arrested and prosecuted for fraud.
He said the funds should only be used for activities agreed upon by the village, including purchasing refreshments for the baraza or facilitating transport for elderly persons, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and respected opinion leaders to attend the meeting.
Todwong made the remarks on July 19, 2026, while addressing NRM leaders, security officials, district chairpersons elected on the party ticket, Members of Parliament and former NRM flag bearers from across the Acholi sub-region during a meeting in Gulu city.
The meeting was aimed at strengthening mobilisation for NRM candidates in the forthcoming LC1, Women Council and LC2 elections.
Todwong argued that it is in the party's interest to have its candidates elected because the NRM can discipline leaders who fail to perform.
"For those in the NRM, we can discipline them. We can even withdraw their party card and call for a by-election in their village if they fail to provide good leadership," he said.
Lamwo County MP Johnson Nyeko Kezikiya said some NRM leaders tend to abandon official party flag bearers in favour of independent candidates.
He cited his own experience, saying he lost the 2016 parliamentary election despite being the official NRM candidate because the party allegedly backed another person.
Kezikiya said he changed his mobilisation strategy ahead of the 2026 elections and eventually won without significant support from the party.
He urged the NRM leadership to address internal divisions if it hopes to perform well in the LC1 elections.
Michael Lakony, a former NRM parliamentary aspirant for Kilak South, called on the party to convene a post-election review meeting to assess challenges experienced during the elections and develop mechanisms for supporting candidates who lose.
He warned that unresolved disputes could weaken the party and deepen divisions at the grassroots.
Former Gulu City Woman MP aspirant Joyce Alima Reni questioned whether the sh100,000 allocation would be sufficient for large villages.
Her concerns were echoed by Osborn Geoffrey Oceng, the Acholi regional RDC whip, who cited Loriko West village in Elegu town council, Amuru district, which he said has a population of about 45,000 people.
Oceng recalled that during the 2018 LC1 elections, voters formed a very lengthy queue, arguing that such villages require additional logistical support.
Agago resident district commissioner James Nabinson Kidega also appealed to the party to budget for fuel to enable RDCs to monitor and respond to electoral irregularities during the LC1 elections.
He said RDCs previously used personal funds to respond to security incidents, adding that some NRM leaders abandoned party members whenever confrontations arose.
Todwong also revealed that his office has received petitions from districts including Apac, Gulu and Lamwo, where party members are demanding the impeachment of district NRM leaders over allegations of corruption, lack of accountability and poor transparency in the management of party funds.
He acknowledged that unresolved grievances could affect the party's performance in the upcoming LC1 elections but urged members to remain focused on securing victory first.
Todwong assured party members that the complaints would be investigated after the elections.
"The people being accused of corruption are occupying very difficult positions because they no longer enjoy the trust of many party members," he said.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the LC1 elections for July 28, 2026, with voting to be conducted using the lining-up method. Nominations closed on July 19, 2026.