Hon. Amb. Barbara Nekesa Unleashes Countrywide Grassroots Mobilization with Funded Village Barazas
To ensure smooth execution of the exercise, the NRM Secretariat has released facilitation funds to all district party accounts. Hon. Nekesa emphasized that NRM’s established party structures — from districts down to villages — will be responsible for managing and distributing the funds. District Administrative Secretaries, under the supervision of District Chairpersons, will release money to NRM Sub-County Chairpersons, who will in turn pass it to Village Chairpersons and Village Secretaries for Finance to facilitate the meetings.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has unveiled a massive nationwide grassroots mobilization operation aimed at consolidating party support ahead of the 2025/2026 General Elections, with the rollout of synchronized Village Baraza meetings across the country.
In a circular dated January 11, 2026, the NRM National Treasurer, Hon. Amb. Barbara Nekesa Oundo, directed all District and City Chairpersons, Municipality and City Division Chairpersons, District Administrative Secretaries (DAS), and grassroots mobilization teams to implement one of the party’s final and most critical campaign activities — village-level meetings commonly known as Barazas.
The Barazas will serve as a platform to deliver the National Chairman’s message, which was previously shared with Parish Leaders during earlier grassroots mobilization meetings, ensuring the message reaches every voter at the village level.
Countrywide Roll-out of Village Meetings
According to the circular, the meetings will be held simultaneously across Uganda at designated village squares, centres, and community meeting points:
Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts will conduct their Barazas on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 3:00 pm
All other districts will hold theirs on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:00 am
In addition to the meetings, nationwide publicity and mobilization drives will be conducted on Monday, January 12, 2026, to create awareness about the Barazas and to disseminate how-to-vote messages. These drives will be coordinated by District Publicity Secretaries, using trucks, public address systems and boda-boda caravans.
Funds Released for Grassroots Mobilization
To ensure smooth execution of the exercise, the NRM Secretariat has released facilitation funds to all district party accounts.
These funds were scheduled to be deposited on Monday, January 12, 2026, specifically to support village meetings and publicity activities. Hon. Nekesa emphasized that NRM’s established party structures — from districts down to villages — will be responsible for managing and distributing the funds. District Administrative Secretaries, under the supervision of District Chairpersons, will release money to NRM Sub-County Chairpersons, who will in turn pass it to Village Chairpersons and Village Secretaries for Finance to facilitate the meetings.
The funds at village level are earmarked mainly for basic logistics such as water and hydration during the Barazas, ensuring orderly and well-attended meetings.
Detailed Breakdown of Village Baraza Funding
The circular provides a clear financial framework to ensure equity and accountability across the country:
Rural villages – Shs 300,000 per village
Urban villages (cities and municipalities) – Shs 500,000 per village
NRM Sub-County Chairpersons – Shs 100,000 each to transport funds from district to sub-county level
NRM Village Chairperson and Village Secretary for Finance – Shs 10,000 each for collecting and delivering funds to their villages
District Executive Committee (DEC) — 12 members plus the DAS — Shs 50,000 each to coordinate activities
Hard-to-reach areas — special additional allocations as detailed in district schedules
Districts without bank branches — special travel facilitation
Bank charges — Shs 250,000 per district
Support for Publicity and Mobilization Drives
To maximize voter reach, the NRM has also financed intensive publicity campaigns, including:
Publicity truck with PA system and fuel – Shs 1,000,000 per district
Boda-boda mobilization caravans – Shs 40,000 per rider per day, with numbers allocated per district
Campaign materials, which were dispatched earlier and communicated through a January 10, 2026 circular
These caravans will crisscross communities broadcasting NRM messages, mobilizing voters, and directing them to their village Barazas.
Strict Accountability Measures
Hon. Nekesa issued a firm warning to party officials, noting that the District Executive Committees (DECs) are personally responsible for ensuring that every village receives its full allocation without diversion or delay.
“The plotted channel for delivery of funds to the villages is managed by the trusted leaders of the Party Structures,” the circular states, emphasizing that no village should be left out.
NRM Enters Final Campaign Stretch
The village Baraza strategy represents NRM’s final major grassroots push before polling, placing the National Chairman’s message directly into the hands of voters at the smallest political unit — the village. With funding, logistics, and mobilization structures now activated, the ruling party is positioning itself for a high-impact, door-to-door style engagement, ensuring that its message, achievements, and electoral appeal are reinforced in every corner of the country.
Hon. Barbara Nekesa concluded the circular by wishing all party structures success as the party climaxes its nationwide mobilization drive, marking one of the most coordinated grassroots operations in NRM’s recent electoral history.
