NRM banks on grassroots in vote drive, best district competition launched

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has shifted its campaign strategy, scrapped traditional task forces and placed the entire burden of delivering victory for incumbent President Yoweri Museveni directly on grassroots structures.

This decentralisation comes with a powerful incentive: A new competitive award aimed at mobilising Northern Uganda's districts.

Speaking to NRM delegates gathered at the Taks Centre in Gulu City on Saturday, ahead of President Yoweri Museveni’s regional campaign trail in Acholi, NRM vice-chairperson Dennis Hamson Obua threw down the gauntlet, announcing a new competitive measure designed to spur northern region districts into action, challenging the region to significantly improve its electoral performance.

"We want to know which district gives the most votes to President Museveni in 2026. This calls for you to work hard and take the lead," Obua said, promising an award for the best-performing district in Northern Uganda.

The announcement puts significant pressure on the region, particularly given that the Acholi region previously ranked third in support for President Museveni in the last elections, a position the NRM leadership is keen to surpass.

Obua also issued a directive to all NRM flag-bearers, stressing that a decision was agreed upon during the NRM’s central executive committee (CEC) meeting in Kampala: flagbearers must prominently feature the photograph of President Museveni on their campaign posters.

Grassroots Ultimatum: 18 million Vote Target Confirmed

Confirming the strategic pivot, NRM Secretary-General Richard Todwong reinforced the radical change, stating the party will no longer register centralised campaign task forces.

“The NRM has refused to register a task force, but wants the delegates at the structures to mobilise for President Museveni,” Todwong stated.

Richard Todwong greeting NRM supporters on arrival. (Photo by Claude Omona)

Todwong revealed the ambitious scale of the mobilisation, noting that out of the party’s 20 million registered supporters, an estimated 18 million are eligible voters. He stressed that achieving victory in 2026 relies entirely on the diligence of the delegates and flag bearers, urging them to immediately return to the grassroots and drive the mobilisation efforts.

“I appeal to NRM supporters to desist from intrigues, which will only weaken the party,” he cautioned. He concluded with a clear instruction: “If you are a chairman of a village, mobilise people in the village. If you are in the city, mobilise for the President so that we may win the 2026 elections.”

Supporters Demand Resources

In response to the intense mobilisation call, party supporters present at the Gulu event appealed to Hajjat Medina Naham, the NRM Director for Finance and Administration, to ensure that vital mobilisation materials—such as T-shirts and other facilities—are distributed early and efficiently.

There were also specific appeals for the NRM to establish a dedicated regional printery to facilitate prompt production of campaign materials, aiding the party's work across the region and supporting the new, decentralised structure-led effort.