NRM finalise roadmap

In a final attempt to streamline the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) roadmap for internal elections, the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the party's top organ, yesterday met at State House, Entebbe.

Sources said yesterday that the late-night meeting also aligned the party's electoral programme with the recently released Electoral Commission (EC) national roadmap that roots for scientific elections and prohibits mass campaign rallies in favour of media/digital campaigns.

Last week, Rogers Mulindwa, the NRM party spokesperson, said in a statement, that although discussion of the party roadmap was key on the agenda, CEC members agreed that more consultations and discussions on the matter be carried out.

Sources say yesterday's meeting agreed to go ahead with the party primaries, using the NRM constitutional requirement of lining up. The party primaries are expected to be conducted before this month ends.

According to EC's roadmap, June 22-21 is the deadline for political parties to identify flag bearers. Nomination of presidential candidates is set for November 2-3 while presidential digital campaigns will commence on November 10, 2020 and end on January 8, 2021.

New Vision has also learnt that a cabinet session chaired by President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday gave the nod to the EC's proposed roadmap, saying guidelines should be crafted to enable political parties and candidates conduct campaigns that resonate with the scientific guidelines and standard operating procedures to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the 2021 general elections.

Cabinet, sources said, also resolved that all political activities should be in keeping with the health ministry's recommendations as laid out in the Public Health Act .

The idea of postponing elections or declaring a state of emergency, sources added, was rejected by Cabinet.

Regulated party assemblies, town hall meetings and other gatherings that observe standard operating procedures against

COVID-19, sources said, were okayed by Cabinet.

The EC on Monday also said it will work on guidelines for presidential aspirants to collect signatures required for nomination.

According to the spokesperson of EC, Jotham Taremwa, the revised guidelines will allow meetings of at least 30 people for

presidential contenders to gather the required signatures and also conduct consultations. By press time, the NRM CEC meeting was still underway at State House, Entebbe.