By Aggrey Baba
During the nomination exercise, various candidates emphasized that the next CEC must confront real bottlenecks that have eroded public confidence in the long-ruling party, especially in Kampala and Buganda region.
Among the most highlighted issues were rampant land grabbing, policy implementation failures, and exclusion of local voices in government programs.
PLU’s Haruna Kasolo, one of the candidates for Vice Chairperson for Buganda, pointed to the urgent need for enhanced mobilisation and trust-building in areas where NRM’s support has visibly weakened.
He cited political exclusion and social inequalities as factors pushing citizens towards opposition parties, despite the presence of government programs.
Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and ex-Speaker Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, who accompanied Kasolo during, have publicly voiced concern about the NRM’s inability to address systemic land wrangles, urging the incoming CEC to create effective links with decision-makers in government to influence policy direction and resolve long-standing community grievances.
Dan Kidega, a former Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, who is contesting for the Vice Chairperson Northern Uganda seat, argued that land remains a key source of dignity for Ugandans and must be protected by the state. He said the NRM has resolved to prioritize land protection and recognition of customary tenure systems as a core plank of its political agenda.
Kidega also said that NRM’s leadership must do more to bridge the gap between government and ordinary citizens. “The CEC should not be a ceremonial organ but must guide serious policy formulation and grassroots mobilisation.”
In the Women’s League race, aspirants reflect on the gap between policy intentions and actual implementation, noting that despite government’s commitment to empower women, many programs are underfunded or inaccessible, especially in rural areas.
All eyes are now on how the NRM Delegates Conference will interpret these campaign messages and whether the elected CEC will live up to the growing demands for internal reform and responsive leadership.
