By Ben Musanje
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has released facilitation funds to support its candidates and mobilization activities ahead of the forthcoming Local Council I (LC1) and Village Women Council elections, following the close of nominations by the Electoral Commission.
In a circular dated July 19, 2026, addressed to district and city chairpersons, municipality and city division chairpersons, and district administrative secretaries, the party’s National Treasurer, Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo, said the financial support is intended to facilitate grassroots campaigns and ensure smooth mobilization across the country.
The communication noted that July 19 marked the final day of nomination of candidates for LC1 chairpersons and Village Women Council positions by the Electoral Commission, paving the way for campaigns in line with both the Electoral Commission’s roadmap and the NRM party activity plan.
According to the circular, the party has provided funding to support several activities, including facilitation for LC1 and Village Women Council flag bearers to cater for polling agents, transport refunds for delegates attending sub-county mobilisation meetings, refreshments during village barazas, coordination by selected party leaders and other field operational expenses.
The NRM also distributed mobilisation materials, including booklets containing messages from President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the party’s National Chairman, and Secretary General Richard Todwong. Each village will receive one booklet, while sub-counties, municipalities, cities and districts will receive additional copies. The party has also supplied 30 posters of President Museveni for every village to be displayed at village baraza venues and trading centres.
Nekesa said all facilitation funds were deposited into district accounts on July 18 and directed NRM sub-county chairpersons to collect the funds and campaign materials from district offices for onward distribution.
“The sub-county chairpersons shall pick the funds relating to all facilitations at the sub-county meetings, LC1 and Village Women Council flag bearers, plus facilitation for the village barazas, together with the booklets and posters,” the circular states.
Sub-county registrars will work alongside the chairpersons to administer the funds, including paying transport refunds to delegates attending mobilization meetings, disbursing facilitation to individual flag bearers and releasing funds and campaign materials to village chairpersons for village barazas.
Village chairpersons will be required to sign for the funds, booklets and posters before conducting mobilisation activities within their respective villages.
The facilitation package provides varying amounts depending on location. LC1 flag bearers in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Luweero and Mpigi will each receive Shs100,000, while candidates in the rest of the country will receive Shs50,000 each.
Village Women Council flag bearers will receive Shs20,000 each in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Luweero and Mpigi, Shs15,000 in other cities and municipalities, and Shs10,000 in the rest of the country.
The party has also allocated transport refunds of Shs10,000 per person to village chairpersons, LC1 flag bearers, Village Women Council flag bearers, sub-county chairpersons, women’s league executives, district women councillors, GISOs and sub-county registrars attending mobilisation meetings.
Each village baraza has been allocated Shs100,000 for mobilisation activities.
In addition, district executive committees will receive Shs1.5 million as the first 50 percent release of facilitation, while municipality and city division executive committees will receive Shs750,000. The five mainstream members of each sub-county committee will receive a lump sum of Shs125,000, representing the first tranche of their facilitation.
The schedules attached to the circular indicate that allocations vary by district depending on the number of villages and sub-counties. For example, Wakiso District has been allocated Shs147 million, Mukono Shs124.1 million, Luweero Shs127 million, Sironko Shs159 million, Namisindwa Shs157.9 million, while Yumbe will receive Shs126.2 million to support mobilisation activities.
Nekesa cautioned party leaders responsible for managing the funds to ensure accountability and adherence to the guidelines issued by the party.
“As the overall supervisors of the districts and signatories to the accounts, you must ensure there are no incidents of misappropriation of funds and/or alteration of guidelines in the administration of the funds,” she said.
The facilitation comes as the ruling party intensifies preparations for the grassroots elections, which are expected to play a key role in strengthening its local structures ahead of subsequent electoral activities. The mobilisation exercise will involve village barazas, sub-county meetings and the deployment of party leaders to coordinate campaigns and engage supporters across the country. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
