The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has called on all party members to attend village barazas scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2026, to verify and confirm the party’s flag bearers for the upcoming LC I and Women Council elections.
Speaking at a press briefing at the commission headquarters in Kampala, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi described the exercise as a key milestone in implementing the party’s electoral roadmap and ensuring every village has duly verified candidates before the national nomination process.
Dr. Odoi announced that the barazas will be held simultaneously in all 72,000 villages across the country starting at 10:00 a.m., urging all NRM members to attend the meetings in their respective villages.
He explained that the exercise is intended to confirm that candidates previously selected as NRM flag bearers are still available, alive, and willing to contest on the party ticket.
The meetings will also address vacancies that may have arisen due to death, withdrawal, or loss of interest by any flag bearer. Where such cases arise, village members, under the guidance of NRM Electoral Commission registrars, will identify replacements through consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, an election will be conducted.
Dr. Odoi emphasized that the July 10 barazas are not meant to conduct fresh elections but rather to validate candidates who were already chosen. However, any vacancies identified during the exercise will be filled immediately to ensure every village is represented.
Following the verification exercise, the names of all confirmed flag bearers will be submitted to the Office of the NRM Secretary General for endorsement between July 11 and July 14, 2026. The endorsed candidates will then be formally nominated by the Independent Electoral Commission at the sub-county level between July 15 and July 19, 2026.
The verified candidates will subsequently contest in the national Local Government elections organised by the Electoral Commission, with Women Council elections scheduled for July 23, 2026, and LC I elections set for July 28, 2026.
Dr. Odoi appealed to all aspiring candidates and party members to prioritise attendance at the village barazas, saying the exercise is critical to strengthening the party’s grassroots structures and ensuring the NRM fields verified candidates across the country.
“The success of these elections begins with every member taking part in the village baraza. We call upon all NRM members to set aside whatever they are doing and attend the meetings in their respective villages at 10:00 a.m. on July 10, so that we can prepare our flag bearers for victory in the forthcoming elections,” Dr. Odoi said.
He added that the NRM Electoral Commission, district election officers, registrars and regional supervisors have completed preparations and are ready to oversee a smooth, transparent and credible verification exercise nationwide.
The press conference was attended by Deputy Electoral Commission Chairperson Hon. Jachan Omach and Commissioners Hon. James Tweheyo and Hon. Auma Modesta.
