By Isaac Wandubile
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has sounded a thunderous call to arms in the heart of Uganda’s capital, as top party officials rally their troops for what they describe as the most decisive political battle yet, the 2026 general elections.
During a fiery mobilization meeting charged with energy and determination, Salim Uhuru Nsubuga, the NRM’s Kampala Vice Chairperson, urged members to bury old grievances and move forward as one united force.
He emphasized that the only path to victory lay in collective effort, saying the party already possessed the numbers and structures from the grassroots to the district level.
Uhuru, who remains the only NRM mayor in Kampala, acknowledged the party’s dwindling representation in the city, noting that only two of the 85 Lord Councillors currently belong to the ruling party.
He, however, expressed confidence that the trend would soon be reversed.
To achieve this, Uhuru revealed that the NRM had adopted an ambitious new campaign approach, a door-to-door, street-by-street mobilization strategy designed to reconnect the party with every household, particularly in key divisions like Makindye and Nakawa.
He explained that this approach would be the first of its kind and that local leaders would be supported to reach every voter directly.
Rt. Hon. Namayanja Rose Nsereko, the NRM Deputy Secretary General, reinforced the message of reconciliation and togetherness.
She warned that internal divisions had continuously weakened the party’s prospects and urged members to close ranks behind President Yoweri Museveni and other party candidates.
She reminded the gathering that their focus should remain on securing a decisive victory in Kampala, especially with President Museveni facing seven challengers in the 2026 presidential race, among them Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform.
Moses Kizito Nsubuga, the NRM’s Lord Mayor candidate for Kampala, hailed the strategy as a new beginning for the party.
He said the time had come to prioritize development and service delivery over what he termed as “politics of sympathy,” which he argued had long derailed the city’s progress.
In her address, State House Comptroller Jane Barekye emphasized the importance of civic education, noting that many urban dwellers were still unaware of the numerous government programs available to them.
She urged local leaders to reach out to citizens directly from homes to transport stages to ensure that targeted groups benefited from initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the funds allocated to ghetto structures and boda boda SACCOs, each receiving Sh100 million.
Amina Lukanga Nanziri, the NRM flag bearer for Kampala Woman MP, said that empowering the long-neglected local party structures would be key to transforming the NRM’s political fortunes in Kampala.
The party’s top leadership, including President Museveni, has reportedly endorsed this grassroots-driven mobilization strategy, signaling the start of an all-out effort to recapture the capital ahead of the January 15, 2026, elections.
The initiative aims not only to secure the presidential vote but also to strengthen the NRM’s representation across Kampala for more effective governance and development. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
