In a decisive shift from top-down campaigning, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has fully activated its grassroots structures ahead of the final election season, deploying senior officials to consolidate support at the village level.
Leading the charge in the Bukedi region is Ambassador Hon. Barbara Nekesa Oundo, the NRM National Treasurer, who is spearheading a critical district entry meeting tour across Pallisa, Kibuku, Butembo, Budaka, and Busia districts, deputised by Rogers Muliwdwa.
The strategy marks a significant tactical change, moving away from the use of a National Task Force and instead leveraging the established party architecture composed of 63 members per district. This move is designed to bring the party’s message directly to every household, emphasising the tangible gains of the NRM government.
During a series of intense and candid meetings with district NRM leaders, Ambassador Nekesa Oundo delivered a tough, unambiguous message on party discipline, targeting the lingering issue of members aligning with so-called "NRM-leaning" independents.
“This is not about individualism now; it’s about the party,” she declared, her tone leaving no room for ambiguity. “The internal primaries were done, and the party only had one victor, not two. That means there is no such thing as the ‘independent NRM’. Any support for such individuals is an act of ideological confusion and betrayal of the party’s collective purpose.”
She dismissed any notion of flawed primaries, framing the exercise within a global context. “Whoever was dissatisfied should know that worldwide, there are no excellent elections, but we have free and fair elections, and that is what happened. Our duty now is not to fight fellow members but to rally behind the party’s flag bearers. Unity of purpose is now paramount.”
Ambassador Nekesa Oundo framed the upcoming election as a critical mission for the party’s survival and dominance. She charged every member with a personal duty to ensure the NRM retains power, warning that support for independents is ultimately self-defeating.
“We must work hard to make sure the NRM stays in power for the next 50 years to come. This can only be done when there is iron-clad unity in the party,” she stated. “Whoever decided to go in as an independent candidate will regret it because they will be beaten hands down. The democratic channel exists—if flag bearers do not perform in the next five years, the voters will remove them. But for now, we must all stick to and support the official flag bearers.”
In her most definitive remarks, she ruled out any future for rebels within the party system. “Let there be no illusion: there is no way President Museveni can work with independents who stood against the party’s chosen candidates. Supporting them holds no value; it undermines the very party you claim to lead. As an NRM leader, why would you support an independent? It is contradictory and unacceptable.”
She issued a direct mandate to the district leaders: to aggressively remind locals of the NRM’s achievements. Failure to do so, she implied, would be seen as antagonistic to the party’s interests.
Concluding on a note of confident resolve, Ambassador Nekesa Oundo said the signs were unmistakably clear that President Yoweri Museveni is poised to return to State House. However, she set a bold target for the region’s performance.
“What we want as a party is not just victory, but a victory that reflects overwhelming confidence. We must see him win with a very big percentage—at least 85%. That is the goal Bukedi must contribute to. It is achievable if we work as one, disciplined unit, focused on our candidate and our record.”
The tour underscores the NRM’s dual strategy: a hyper-localised, structure-driven outreach campaign coupled with a stringent demand for internal cohesion, aimed at squashing dissent and marshalling all energies toward a landslide electoral performance. The message from Bukedi is clear: fall in line, champion the party’s legacy, or be sidelined.
