Namyalo’s ONC reign has re-ignited NRM’s grassroots mobilization and she now holds the key to 2026 victory

By Denis Muteguya

When Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye took over as the Senior Presidential Advisor and Head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), few anticipated the political storm she would stir. Today, she stands as one of the most consequential mobilizers within the NRM machinery, feared by some, admired by many, and above all, trusted by the masses. Her approach is not business-as-usual; it’s bold, disruptive, and unapologetically pro-ordinary Ugandan.

What was once a dormant office has turned into a political command post for grassroots revolution. If this same energy is fully backed with funding and logistical support ahead of the 2026 general elections, the NRM’s performance, especially in volatile or opposition-leaning regions, won’t just improve. It will surpass expectations.

Hajjat Namyalo is a different breed of political mobilizer. She doesn’t rely on filtered reports from district offices. She moves. She listens. She intervenes. From ghettos in Kampala to fishing communities, and from boda stages in Luweero to youth groups in the north, she has made her presence felt. Her brand of leadership is field-based, not desk-bound.

Unlike many who wait for election season to activate, Namyalo has kept ONC operational year-round, handing over tools of trade to youth and women groups, holding empowerment camps, and restoring hope in areas that had turned politically cold. The people see her not just on posters, but in real time, on the ground.

With the 2026 elections already shaping up to be one of Uganda’s most competitive, especially given the opposition’s growing appetite for ground-level politics, the NRM must rethink its mobilization strategy. Traditional methods won’t cut it. Rallies and songs won’t be enough. The election will be won or lost in the villages, trading centers, and youth corners. And that is precisely where Hajjat Namyalo thrives.

If given the budget (just as expected), she needs unhindered and well-targeted ONC under her command can execute a parallel mobilization effort that directly delivers the NRM message to the real voter. Not through tired slogans, but through action: skills training, start-up empowerment, political education, and door-to-door engagement.

In fact, her  “Jajja Tova Ku Main” campaign already proves the point. It has grown into a national movement on its own merit. The youth chant it not just because it rhymes, but because it speaks to empowerment, relevance, and identity in the Museveni political legacy.

What sets Namyalo apart and sometimes draws silent resistance from within is her refusal to rely on the usual party bureaucracy. She has cut through red tape and instead built a network of grassroots mobilizers loyal to President Museveni and the core values of the Movement, not to individuals seeking political rents. This has rattled some local party structures that had grown comfortable managing politics from their homes while blocking new voices.

But it has reawakened the base. New NRM diehards are being born in parishes and villages that had long leaned toward opposition parties, simply because someone finally showed up not with promises, but with practical support. Her critics call it populist. Her supporters call it long overdue. But one thing is clear: it works.

For years, resources meant for mobilization have been lost in bureaucratic webs, diverted by self-seekers, or delayed until it’s too late. But if Hajjat Namyalo’s ONC is well-funded early enough and allowed to operate independently, it could change the face of the 2026 election. Swing districts will become NRM strongholds through constant presence, empowerment, and political education. Youth will be brought back into the fold, not through lectures, but through opportunities and inclusion.

The opposition’s messaging will be countered not with words, but with visible transformation led by ONC programs. NRM structures will be reenergized, bypassing inactive party agents and instead activating loyal, result-driven actors in every village. Namyalo’s model is not only cheaper and faster but it’s more effective. She knows the battlefield, and she knows what wins votes: credibility, consistency, and delivery.

Hajjat Namyalo’s rise hasn’t been smooth sailing. Her no-nonsense attitude and refusal to play party politics the old way have unsettled those who used to monopolize mobilization resources. But in the eyes of the people, she has restored faith in the NRM’s grassroots promise. She is doing what many promised for years but never delivered. Her strength lies in her authenticity. She speaks the language of the people. She doesn’t hide behind titles. She doesn’t fear backlash. That raw, fearless energy is what has made her a favorite among the bazukulu and a rising symbol of hope among rural and urban voters alike.

In a time when Ugandan politics is becoming more localized, more emotional, and more personal, the NRM needs leaders who reflect those realities. Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye is that leader. She’s not just waving flags; she’s building a political army, voter by voter, group by group. To ignore or underfund her efforts going into 2026 would be a political miscalculation. But to back her fully, give her the tools and trust she needs, would be to unleash the most powerful force the NRM has at the grassroots level today.

If the NRM wants to secure a landslide and silence its doubters, it must fuel the fire Namyalo has already lit. The time to invest in people-powered mobilization is now and she has proven she’s ready to lead it.