Amb. Barbara Nekesa Champions Financial Discipline and Accountability in NRM Treasury Ahead of 2026 Elections
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Amb. Nekesa, who assumed the Treasury portfolio four years ago, revealed that her stewardship has ushered in greater transparency, accountability, and financial discipline within the party.
As the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) winds up its five-year tenure and following the official nomination of President Yoweri Museveni as the party’s presidential flag-bearer for the 2026 general elections, the party’s National Treasurer, Hon. Amb. Barbara Nekesa Oundo, has outlined a series of far-reaching reforms she has implemented to safeguard and efficiently manage the party’s resources.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Amb. Nekesa, who assumed the Treasury portfolio four years ago, revealed that her stewardship has ushered in greater transparency, accountability, and financial discipline within the party.
Strengthening Accountability
“When I was appointed to this office, I was given a brief by the appointing authority; and that brief included safeguarding the party resources and assets from corruption and abuse,” Amb. Nekesa said. “Coming from a government background, where every coin must be accounted for, I applied the same principle to the NRM Treasury. Some may not be comfortable with strict accountability, but as Treasury we shall remain non-compromising.”
Key reforms include ensuring prompt payment of staff salaries, restoring the confidence of suppliers by clearing long-standing debts, and regularizing rent payments for district party offices. The Treasury has also instituted mechanisms requiring departments to account for funds before further disbursements are made, while a detailed inventory of party assets has been compiled.
Amb. Nekesa emphasized that given the party’s funding from the national Consolidated Fund under the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) arrangement, NRM must lead by example in transparency.
“We wouldn’t wish to be on the wrong side of the law and yet we are the ruling party. This explains our ruthlessness on accountability,” she noted.
Staff and Leadership Applaud Reforms
The reforms have been widely welcomed by both staff and senior party leaders. Members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the Secretariat praised Nekesa’s measures for restoring financial order. Staff, in particular, expressed excitement about timely salaries, a stark departure from the past when they would go several months without pay.
“We used to spend six or ten months without salary. There is a time we spent 17 months without salary! But now we are confident that our salaries will come on the 28th of every month,” said Saudha Nankya Ssentamu, Administrative Secretary for Buikwe District.
Staff further appealed for additional welfare initiatives, including the establishment of a general SACCO with seed capital of UGX 100 million, provision of vehicles at district level, medical insurance, and education support. Nekesa promised to forward these requests to top management and CEC for consideration.
Payroll Rationalization and Rent Arrears Cleared
Looking ahead, the Treasury is reviewing the payroll to address salary discrepancies among staff who have not seen changes in remuneration for over 15 years despite seniority and experience.
“Now that we have stabilized payment of salaries, our next step is to look into discrepancies by defining who should earn what,” Nekesa explained.
She also disclosed that a countrywide verification exercise conducted three years ago revealed deplorable conditions in some district offices, including huge rent arrears, lack of electricity, and poor facilities. The Treasury has since cleared all rent arrears to zero and embarked on constructing permanent party structures in districts to eliminate reliance on rented premises.
Support from Leadership
Amb. Nekesa credited her success to the unwavering support from NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, and the top management team.
“There is nothing much I could do without the support of my colleagues, especially the SG. Whenever I tabled reform ideas, my colleagues backed me up,” she said.
About Amb. Nekesa
Amb. Nekesa, a former Woman MP for Busia District and former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, also served as Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa. Beyond politics, she is a renowned philanthropist and advocate for women and girl-child empowerment.
As the NRM heads into another election season, Nekesa’s stewardship of the party’s Treasury stands out as a critical pillar of accountability and financial discipline, setting an example not only for the party but also for Uganda’s political system at large.
