Todwong Calls for Mass Turnout as Party Holds Second Village Barazas Ahead of LC Elections

What the report says

Nile Post reports that National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General Richard Todwong has asked party officials, supporters and voters to attend the party’s second nationwide Village Barazas, scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Todwong described the meetings as an important mobilisation effort ahead of the Village Women Council and LC I Chairperson elections.

According to the report, the NRM held an earlier round of Village Barazas on July 10 to address vacant party positions and endorse official flag bearers for the village-level contests. The Electoral Commission then conducted nominations from July 15 to 19, after which nominated candidates were allowed to campaign in their villages. Polling for Village Women Councils is set for July 23, while LC I Chairperson elections are due on July 28.

Todwong said the NRM’s village-level organisation gives it confidence going into the elections, pointing to party structures across about 72,000 villages. He urged members to back official NRM candidates, saying the Barazas would be used to introduce flag bearers, reinforce unity and encourage turnout. The report says party leaders have recently mobilised across all 18 sub-regions, with messages focused on unity and support for endorsed candidates rather than independents.

The LC I Chairperson role is significant because it is the lowest elected leadership position in Uganda’s local governance system and is closely tied to community mobilisation, local dispute resolution and implementation of government programmes. Nile Post reports that the NRM expects its grassroots networks and final Baraza mobilisation to help its candidates in the upcoming village elections.