Kampala, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has summoned the ruling party delegates for the 1st Meeting of the 4th National Conference of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), scheduled for August 27 to 28, 2025, at the Kololo Independence Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.
The high-level gathering is expected to shape the NRM’s top leadership and political direction ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The conference, to be held under the theme “Building a Shared Prosperity: Investing in Uganda’s Future,” will be presided over by Museveni in his capacity as the NRM National Chairman.
Mr Museveni, who has led the party since 1986, is also expected to be endorsed as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2026 elections, a move that would clear the way for his seventh elective term in office.
According to the official agenda seen by DailyExpress, the August conference is expected to receive and adopt a detailed report by the Secretary General Richard Todwong, elect new members to the powerful Central Executive Committee (CEC), and confirm the party’s presidential candidate.
The elections for CEC positions are expected to be highly competitive, with several incumbents facing challenges from younger aspirants and party historicals seeking a return to the top echelons of the ruling party.
Among the key CEC positions to be contested is that of the National Chairman, currently held by Museveni, as well as the First National Vice Chairperson, a position held by long-serving NRM stalwart Moses Kigongo.
The Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) position, currently occupied by First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, is also up for contest with Speaker Anita Annet Among putting a fierce contest against her longtime rival.
Other regional Vice Chairpersons whose positions will be contested include Godfrey Kiwanda (Central), Capt. Mike Mukula (Eastern), Dr. Chris Baryomunsi (Western), Sam Engola (Northern), Salim Uhuru (Kampala), and that of Karamoja, previously held by the late Simon Peter Aleper.
The NRM National Conference, which sits once every five years, is the party’s supreme decision-making organ composed of over 15,000 voting delegates. These include Members of Parliament on the NRM ticket, all party district chairpersons, LC V chairpersons on the NRM ticket, NRM sub-county leaders, leaders of the NRM special interest leagues such as the Youth, Women, Elders, Entrepreneurs, and Persons with Disabilities, as well as historical and founding members of the party.
The delegates will vote by secret ballot under the supervision of the NRM Electoral Commission chaired by Dr. Tanga Odoi.
In addition to electing new CEC members, the conference will formally confirm the party’s flagbearer for the 2026 general elections. While nominations for the presidential flagbearer position officially closed on July 4, sources within the party indicate that the process is merely a formality, with Museveni widely expected to receive unanimous endorsement from the delegates.
The Kololo event comes at a time when various aspirants have expressed interest in challenging some of the long-standing CEC members, signaling a growing push for generational renewal within the NRM ranks, and set the tone for its campaign strategy going into the 2026 polls.
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