By Aggrey Baba
There is an old saying, that When the drum beats louder, even the deaf will hear. That is the reality facing Uganda’s opposition as the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) tightens its grip on the political landscape.
With its latest membership update, the party has proven that it is not just growing but swallowing up the political space ahead of the 2026 elections.
The NRM’s Secretary General, Richard Todwong, on Thursday, revealed that the party’s membership now stands at an astonishing 20.7 million, a figure that should send shivers down the spine of opposition strategists.
Just last year, the NRM had registered 18.3 million members, but after the second phase of registration, the numbers have surged even higher.
While addressing the press at the NRM headquarters in Kampala, Todwong emphasized that this growth is not just about numbers but also about organization and strategy. He clarified that the party’s register includes all individuals aged 16 and above, but only those 18 and above qualify to vote.
This means that while some members may not yet be eligible to cast their ballots in 2026, they are already aligned with the party’s ideology, an early investment in the future.
The man from Rwakitura’s party is not just recruiting members, but also fine-tuning its electoral machinery, where the ongoing verification process ensures that the party’s register is clean, accurate, and aligned with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Electoral Commission.
This level of planning eliminates confusion and fraud, something opposition parties often struggle with.
Adding more fuel to the opposition’s worries, Todwong revealed that the NRM will soon release its 2026 election roadmap and guidelines for primaries. The party is sticking to its proven method of lining up behind candidates, a process that has been hailed as transparent, cost-effective, and efficient.
With over 72,000 villages participating, this strategy guarantees that grassroots mobilization remains NRM’s strongest weapon.
For any keen observer, the writing is on the wall. If the opposition does not rethink its strategy, the 2026 elections might be over before they even begin. NRM is not just growing, but also consolidating power at every level. The daily influx of 100 visitors at the party headquarters, including former opposition members seeking to switch sides, is evidence that the tide is turning.
In politics, numbers win elections. And with 20.7 million members and counting, the opposition is running out of time to counter the unstoppable wave. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
