Rt. Hon. Todwong Mobilises NRM Supporters for Final Village Barazas Ahead of LC Elections

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, has called on party leaders, supporters and voters across the country to turn up in large numbers for the second nationwide round of Village Barazas scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Todwong described the Barazas as a critical final mobilisation exercise ahead of the forthcoming Village Women Council and Local Council I (LC I) elections, urging NRM supporters to use the gatherings to consolidate unity and rally behind the party's official flag bearers.

The second round of Village Barazas comes at a crucial point in the electoral process, following the conclusion of candidate nominations conducted by the Electoral Commission between July 15 and 19.

The nominated candidates are now conducting campaigns within their respective villages ahead of polling, with elections for Village Women Councils scheduled for July 23, followed by the LC I Chairperson elections on July 28.

The first round of Village Barazas, held on July 10, focused on filling vacant party positions and confirming official NRM flag bearers who would represent the party in the upcoming elections.

According to Todwong, Wednesday's Barazas will provide the party with an opportunity to bring together its grassroots structures, communicate directly with voters and strengthen support for its candidates before the elections.

He said the NRM is entering the village-level elections with a strong advantage because of its extensive grassroots structures, which he described as the backbone of the party's electoral strength.

“There is no political party in Uganda with the structures that the NRM has. We have elected leaders in every village, and these structures have delivered victory in presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. We are confident they will mobilise support for our official flag bearers once again,” Todwong said.

The Secretary General noted that the NRM has structures spread across approximately 72,000 villages in Uganda, with elected leaders at the grassroots level tasked with mobilising communities, popularising the party's programmes and strengthening its presence at the village level.

He said these structures would be instrumental in ensuring that the party's candidates effectively reach voters and mobilise support ahead of polling.

Todwong further emphasised the importance of the Village Barazas in connecting party leaders and candidates with ordinary citizens, saying the gatherings provide a platform through which the NRM can reach households across the country.

“We have official flag bearers in virtually every village. I call upon all supporters to stand firmly behind them — united support for party candidates is the surest way to strengthen the NRM and consolidate our grassroots victories,” he said.

The Secretary General also highlighted the importance of the LC I Chairperson position in Uganda's governance system, describing the village leadership structure as the foundation of local democracy and community administration.

He said LC I leaders have a crucial role in mobilising communities to participate in government programmes, promoting peace and security, supporting service delivery and contributing to local development initiatives.

Todwong therefore urged NRM leaders at all levels to use the second round of Village Barazas to intensify voter mobilisation, encourage high voter turnout and ensure that party supporters are fully informed about the electoral process and polling dates.

He also called upon party structures to maintain unity and discipline, urging members to support the candidates officially endorsed by the NRM.

The call comes after several weeks of nationwide mobilisation by senior NRM leaders across the country's 18 sub-regions.

During the mobilisation drives, party leaders have repeatedly called on NRM members to remain united, avoid divisions and support the party's official flag bearers as the movement seeks to consolidate its influence at the grassroots.

The Village Women Council elections on July 23 and the LC I Chairperson elections on July 28 represent an important stage in the NRM's grassroots mobilisation strategy, given the central role played by village-level leaders in community organisation and implementation of government programmes.

The NRM leadership has expressed confidence that the combination of its established grassroots structures, ongoing campaigns by nominated candidates and the final mobilisation push through the Village Barazas will translate into strong electoral performance.

With the second nationwide round of Barazas taking place just one day before the Village Women Council elections, the party is expected to use the gatherings to reinforce its message of unity, encourage supporters to participate in the elections and rally voters behind its official candidates.

Todwong's appeal is therefore aimed at ensuring that the NRM's extensive village structures are fully activated ahead of polling, with party leaders expected to focus on voter mobilisation and ensuring that supporters participate in both the July 23 and July 28 elections.

The Secretary General maintained that the strength of the NRM lies in its grassroots organisation, urging members to remain united and use the forthcoming elections to further strengthen the party's presence at the village level.