NRM Registration: More villages captured as exercise nears end

Kampala, (UG):- The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has continued to show why it is the ruling political party in its ongoing member registration and update exercise saw more youths aged 18-30 turn up in big numbers to pay allegiance to its ideologies.

The nationwide register update exercise which started on Wednesday, March 13, is set to conclude by Sunday, March 17, as the country’s dominant political organizes its membership database ahead of the forthcoming internal and general elections.

Friday, March 15, 2024, marked day three of the exercise amid intensive mobilization and registration across the 18 zonal regions of the NRM where the majority of the new members captured in the party’s Yellow Book were mainly youths, some of whom are joining the NRM for the first time.

In Kampala, Uganda’s capital, the Manager of the Office of NRM National Chairman (ONC), SPA/PA Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye paralyzed downtown areas as she traversed through the Old Taxi Park, Kisekka Market and Usafi monitoring the ongoing exercise.

Later in the day, Hajjat Namyalo also joined the millions of NRM cadres in updating her details in the NRM register at Goodwill Village, Kabalagala in Makindye Division, a Kampala Suburb.

From here, the workaholic ONC boss proceeded to Entebbe where she took part in the supervision process at the mayor’s gardens.

Roundup of NRM Register Update in other regions

In Kakumiro District, western Uganda, Prime Minister Robinah_Nabbanja, on Friday verified her membership in the NRM Yellow Book at Kinena B Cell, Kakumiro Town Council where she was glad to find that all her initials were well laid in the register.

The Premier who is currently on a district-wide mobilisation drive to popularise the ongoing NRM register update and registration exercise also added a rallying call urging party members countrywide to actively participate in the exercise ahead of the upcoming party internal activities.  

In Greater Mbarara’s Isingiro District, the ONC Sub-region coordinator Mr Muhangi Zephline Friday took part in the exercise by presenting himself for registration at his polling station in Kibona I, Kasana Parish, Birere Sub-county, Isingiro District. Here, the number of residents, especially new members crossing to join NRM from opposition parties mainly NUP & DP was reported to be a positive one.

The turn up was ranked at 78% on Day 4 in lieu of the community population according to the Village Registrar Mr Andrew Berutsya. Muhangi was happy to find that the Women group whom he supported with a Sewing Machine through the ONC Empowerment program are exceedingly developing their business hence wealth creation.

The residents however raised a few challenges of lack of electricity, roads and tapped water in the community and urged their leaders to follow up on their behalf with the respective authorities.

In the Eastern Region, the highlight of the day was climaxed by the active participation of the NRM National Vice Chairman (Eastern) Capt Mike Mukula who stormed the streets of Jinja City to inspect the ongoing NRM membership registration/Update exercise.

In the Busoga Sub-Region, the Regional Coordinator Ms Kyanika Rehema spent much of her day in Bugiri District moving door to door calling upon the voters most especially the youths to grab their chance and update their details in the YELLOW BOOK REGISTER.

By doing this, Kyanika says this showcases the party’s appeal to elder and younger demographics and their potential to invigorate political engagement and make their future bright.

In Acholi, excitement marred the residents of Nwoya District after 21 FDC executives in the district led by their Chairperson Komakech Innocent defected the opposition to join the ruling NRM party and were all registered in the Yellow Books at their respective villages in the presence of NRM Chairperson Obwot Livingstone.

In West Nile, the NRM Director of Finance and Administration who also doubles as the region’s zonal coordinator, Hajjat Medina Naham Ojale received a warm reception as she supervised the progress of the party register update exercise in Yumbe district. She commended the locals for responding to the call from party leadership to verify their membership in the yellow book.

Meanwhile, in Bunyoro, the Sub Region Coordinator, Mr Tunura Brian combed through Masindi District mobilizing people to register in the yellow book and also ensuring the exercise moving on well.

For example; In Kinuuma Village, Mirya Sub-county, by close of business on Friday, 268 people out of the 637 in the village had updated their details in the NRM Register, with 52 new members captured as new entrants in the Yellow Book, while in Bigando village, Kigulya Division, 299 people were updated out of 650 people and 82 new members captured.

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In the Madi Sub-region the ONC Regional Coordinator, Mr Isadru Peter yesterday covered seven (7) villages from Metu Sub-county Ayire villages where turn up of members was above average but registrars here presented a challenge of failure of participating members failure to present National Identity cards for legit registration.

He (Isadru) further proceeded to Eripi Udrubu village and later Ramogi, Ayiro, Pameri, Pageribe and Pameri villages in the region. Here, during interaction with the village registrars realized that the death rate is high as the villages lost many prominent members of the party in the past few years.

The village registrars here were also registering students aged 16 years above using their LIN ( learners identification number) as they will be eligible to vote by 2026.

The NRM Registration Exercise continues yet again today, Saturday, March 16, the second day of the activity which is slated to close by tomorrow, Sunday, March 17, 2024, after which the party will carry out a Village Baraza to verify the registered members.

The register will upon completion be used by the party in setting up the organs of the party and will also be used in nominating candidates who stand in the party primaries.