Kampala, Uganda: The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) has unveiled 31,629 National Resistance Movement (NRM)-leaning flag bearers for the forthcoming Local Council (LC) and Women Council elections, with ONC Manager Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye launching an intensive nationwide mobilisation campaign aimed at securing victory for the ruling party’s grassroots candidates.
Hajjat Namyalo announced the mobilisation drive while rallying Ugandans to actively participate in the upcoming village-level elections, describing the polls as critical in strengthening local leadership and deepening citizen participation in governance.
The mobilisation comes as Uganda prepares for its first nationwide LC1 and LC2 elections since 2018, following the Electoral Commission’s release of the roadmap for the long-awaited Administrative Units and Women Councils elections.
According to Namyalo, the ONC, working alongside other NRM structures, has already identified 31,629 candidates aligned to the ruling party who will contest various village leadership positions across the country.
“As Office of the National Chairman, our flag bearers, who are ONC-leaning and part of the NRM, are people whose victory we have to advocate for, and we have to fight hard so that they win,” Namyalo said.
“We have to mobilise for them, the 31,629. Those are the ones we have so far secured as Office of the National Chairman, working hand in hand with other stakeholders.”
She explained that the remaining positions would be filled through the NRM Electoral Commission before the party finalises its nationwide grassroots team.
“Those particular areas that are still vacant are going to be refilled by the NRM Electoral Commission headed by Dr. Tanga Odoi. Then we formulate a winning team that is going to compete with other stakeholders, either independents or the opposition.”
Call for nationwide participation
Namyalo appealed to Ugandans to embrace the elections by turning up in large numbers to elect leaders capable of addressing community concerns.
She said effective village leadership begins with active citizen participation and urged voters to support candidates whom they trust to serve their communities.
“For purposes of sanity and fighting impunity, kindly participate, take part and be part of the work. We can’t do the work without you people in your particular village,” Hajjat noted. “You have to come on board and support your LC1 chairman, the one of your choice, not the one who is enforced on you.”
In her capacity as the Chief Muzzukulu encouraged voters to back leaders who demonstrate compassion, accountability and commitment to local development.
“Parade behind your beloved chairperson, whoever you feel comfortable with, whoever you believe will fight for the good cause of your particular village.”
Women urged to take leadership
Namyalo also intensified mobilisation for the Women Councils elections, calling on women, especially single mothers and rural women, to support female candidates who understand their challenges.
She said women leaders have a greater appreciation of issues affecting households and should be empowered to represent fellow women at grassroots level. “As women of this nation, kindly this time round let us not be hoodwinked by self-seekers. Let us vote right.”
“Our single mothers, come on board. You are too many. Let us vote for that particular woman who is going to lobby for us and ensure that our priority needs as women are met.”
Electoral roadmap
The Electoral Commission recently released the programme for the Administrative Units (LC I and LC II) and Women Councils elections after years of postponements caused largely by funding constraints.
Under the roadmap, Village Women Councils and Committees elections will be held on July 23, 2026, followed by Village LC1 Chairperson elections on July 28, while Parish (LC2) Chairperson elections are scheduled for August 10, 2026.
The polls will elect leaders across more than 71,000 villages nationwide and complete one of the final grassroots electoral exercises ahead of Uganda’s broader electoral cycle.
For the NRM, the elections are expected to test the strength of its village mobilisation structures, with the ONC and the party secretariat rolling out coordinated campaigns to consolidate support at the grassroots.
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