Top NRM leaders rally party supporters for village barazas

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The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party top leadership has urged party supporters across the country to turn out in large numbers for Wednesday's Village Barazas, describing them as a vital step in strengthening grassroots structures ahead of the forthcoming Local Council 1 (LC1) and Village Women Council elections.

NRM secretary general Richard Todwong said the Village Barazas reaffirm the party's long-held belief that sustainable leadership begins at the grassroots, where communities identify their priorities and actively participate in building strong local structures.

"The strength of the NRM lies in its village structures. I urge all our supporters to participate fully in tomorrow's Village Barazas because strong villages build a strong party, and a strong party builds a strong nation," Todwong said.

He said the Barazas would promote unity, strengthen mobilisation and prepare members to elect committed village leaders capable of advancing the party's agenda at the grassroots.

NRM deputy secretary general Rose Namayanja Nsereko

NRM deputy secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko, urged members to embrace the exercise with commitment and discipline.

"Tomorrow's Village Barazas are more than ordinary meetings. They are a demonstration of the NRM's belief that leadership begins with the people. We encourage all our supporters to attend, participate actively and work together to strengthen our village structures," Namayanja said.

She said strong village structures are critical for mobilising communities, supporting government programmes and ensuring every household benefits from Uganda's socio-economic transformation.

Across the country, senior party leaders reinforced the same message during sub-regional mobilisation meetings.

Tororo

In Tororo, NRM electoral commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi urged leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation and ensure a massive turnout for the Village Women Council and LC I elections. He described the Local Council system as the cornerstone of government service delivery, saying electing capable NRM leaders at the village level would strengthen implementation of the party manifesto.

"The Local Council system remains the fulcrum of government's service delivery machinery. Electing NRM cadres at the village level gives the party and government a firm foundation to continue delivering on the commitments made to Ugandans," Tanga said.

West Nile

In West Nile, NRM director of finance Hajjati Medina Naham thanked residents for the overwhelming support they gave President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM during the recent general elections and urged them to replicate the same commitment during the grassroots polls.

Also in West Nile, NRM electoral commission deputy chairperson Jachan Omach said the spirit of unity that delivered victory in the general elections should now be directed towards securing decisive victories in the LC I elections.

"LC I leaders form the bedrock of the NRM's grassroots structures. Strong village leadership is essential for the continued growth, stability and effectiveness of our party," Omach said.

Bukedi and Bugisu

In Bukedi, National Treasurer Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo reminded leaders that villages remain the foundation of the NRM's organisational strength and encouraged them to use the Village Barazas to popularise official party candidates and strengthen grassroots mobilisation.

NRM electoral commission commissioner Alisemeera Jane Babiiha 

In Bugisu, NRM Director of Communication Emmanuel Lumala Dombo said the nationwide engagements were intended to prepare Members of Parliament, district leaders, LC V chairpersons and other party officials for the grassroots elections while conveying President Museveni's message on unity, mobilisation, wealth creation and service to the people.

Bunyoro

A similar message was delivered in Bunyoro, where President Museveni, in a communication delivered by NRM director for legal affairs counsel Enoch Barata, urged Ugandans to actively participate in the Village Barazas and the forthcoming village elections. The President emphasised that village leaders play a central role in fighting poverty, monitoring government programmes, promoting wealth creation and combating corruption at the community level.

Mobilisation meetings were also held in Karamoja, Kigezi, Kampala Metropolitan, Greater Mubende, Acholi and other sub-regions, where senior party officials urged members to remain united, support official NRM flag bearers and reject the practice of sponsoring independent candidates. Leaders emphasised that discipline, teamwork and strong grassroots structures are essential to protecting the party's achievements and sustaining its electoral strength.

The nationwide mobilisation campaign comes ahead of the Village Women Council elections scheduled for July 23 and the LC I Chairperson elections on July 28. The NRM leadership says the exercise is intended to energise grassroots structures, deepen internal cohesion and ensure maximum participation, maintaining that victory for the party begins at the village level.