Kampala, Uganda – The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has unveiled its highly anticipated electoral roadmap. Still, the announcement has exposed growing rifts within the ruling party as some grassroots leaders protest being sidelined from the planning process.
The controversy erupted during a stormy meeting of NRM chairpersons from Kampala District at Lugogo, where local leaders openly criticized the party's top brass for releasing the schedule without proper consultation. The gathering turned particularly heated when area chairpersons confronted their district chairman, Steven Ntanzi, accusing him of failing to adequately represent their concerns to the party leadership and President Yoweri Museveni.
Grassroots Leaders Voice Frustrations
Delegates at the meeting expressed deep concerns about the party's preparedness for the upcoming elections, with polling for village chairpersons scheduled to begin on May 24 and conclude by June 6. Many questioned how the NRM could hope to retain its stronghold positions when, in their view, the party's organizational structure on the ground has weakened considerably.
"We've been elected to lead, but now our terms are ending without us being able to properly brief the President or NRM leadership about the challenges we face," complained one chairperson. The leaders specifically lamented that the newly released roadmap appears designed to benefit established figures rather than grassroots organizers.
Leadership Under Fire
Chairman Ntanzi found himself in the hot seat as delegates demanded answers about why their repeated requests for meetings with top leadership had gone unanswered. In a startling admission, Ntanzi revealed that even he has struggled to secure an audience with the President or receive responses to written communications.
The frustrated chairpersons have given their leadership a two-day ultimatum to arrange the long-sought meeting with President Museveni and NRM officials. "If this doesn't happen," warned one delegate, "the NRM should prepare for disappointing results in Kampala."
Broader Implications
This internal dissent highlights growing anxiety within NRM ranks as the party prepares for what could be its most challenging electoral cycle. With the roadmap now officially launched, concerns persist about whether the party's structures remain robust enough to deliver victory, particularly in urban areas where opposition support has grown.
As the dust settles from this confrontation, all eyes remain on whether the NRM leadership will address these grassroots concerns or risk entering the election season with a divided front. The coming days will prove crucial in determining whether this rift widens or finds resolution through meaningful dialogue between the party's hierarchy and its foot soldiers.
