The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has released the party primaries calendar ahead of the 2021 forthcoming elections. In the primary elections roadmap released by the party’s electoral commission (EC) chairman, Tanga Odoi, on Friday, July 16, the only positions that will be subjected to the process of elections are; the national chairperson, the first national vice-chairperson, the second national vice-chairperson (female) and the six regional vice-chairpersons.
The current holders of these top nine positions in NRM are President Museveni who is the national chairperson, deputised by Hon. Moses Kigongo as first national vice-chairperson and Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, as the second national vice-chairperson.
The regional vice-chairpersons whose positions are up for election include; Capt Mike Mukula for eastern region, Maj Gen (Rtd) Matayo Kyaligonza for the western region, Sam Engola for the northern region, Abdul Nadduli for the central region, Godfrey Nyakana for Kampala region, and, Simon Peter Aleper for Karamoja region.
Nrm Electoral Commission Chairman Tanga Odoi noted that those intending to compete for these top positions will pick expression of interest forms from the party EC headquarters or through the online platform from July 20 to 22 while their nominations will be on July 27 to 28 and their vetting by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) will be done between July 30 and August 5.
“The resolutions passed before to endorse the President as a sole candidate is a fact. That same resolution will be put to test for those who may go to court saying they were closed out during the party primary elections,” Odoi said.
Both the top leaders of the party and the presidential candidate will be elected in a national delegates conference that will be held virtually as a way of avoiding the usual crowding at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
Ms Justine Kasule Lumumba, the party’s secretary-general, said it was resolved by CEC while approving the roadmap on Thursday, July 15 that the delegates conference will be held virtually as a way of observing the guidelines of the Ministry of Health aimed at fighting Covid-19.
“The election of the presidential flag bearer and the national executive committee will be by district resolutions using the virtual platforms. The delegates’ conference will not be at Namboole as it has always been,” Ms Lumumba said.
NRM primaries election calendar
July 20: Secretary-General hands over register of 11.9m NRM voters to the party’s Electoral Commission
July 20-22: Picking of expression of interest and nomination forms for presidential flag bearer, national chairperson and vice-chairpersons
July 27-28: Nominations for presidential flag bearer, national chairperson and vice-chairpersons
July 30-August 5: CEC and NEC vets presidential flag bearer, national chairperson and vice-chairpersons
August 7-8: National Delegates’ conference in line with Covid-19 guidelines to elect presidential flag bearer, national chairperson and vice-chairpersons
July 23-31: Online expression of interest and picking nomination forms for Woman MPs, directly elected MPs, LC 5 chairpersons and city mayors.
August 10-11: Nominations at Party EC headquarters for Woman MP, directly elected MPs, LC 5 Chairpersons and city mayors for the western region.
