Published on 13/03/2024
The much-anticipated updating of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) membership register has kicked off in all villages across the country ahead of the 2026 general Elections.
Our sources from the ground, so far indicate that turnout has been fairly good with more people expected to turn up in the coming days.
According to Mr. Luzinda Henry, the Office Of The National Chairman (ONC) coordinator for Wakiso District, the main challenges faced today being the first day of the exercise were poor sensitization and cooperation with some village chairmen.
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Mr. Luzinda however remains hopeful that with more sensitization to the grass root, the party will double its membership further calling upon all NRM members in Wakiso and other areas countrywide to to mobilize and encourage as many people as possible to come and register for this important exercise.
“The registration process will continue in the remaining 4days, so let’s all work together to make it a success. Let’s not let poor sensitization or lack of cooperation hinder us from achieving our goal. This is our chance to make a difference and have a say in the future of our district and country.” Luzinda Henry said while addressing leaders in Busukuma.
Meanwhile, Mr Happy John Bagenda, ONC Coordinator for Nansana Municipality also in Wakiso District used the same opportunity to highlight the importance of the registration exercise noting that it is crucial for the upcoming elections.
”This process ensures that all eligible voters are accounted for and can exercise their right to vote. It also allows for a more accurate representation of the NRM Members in the electoral process. This is a reminder to all NRM members and citizens of Wakiso to take part in this exercise and not miss this opportunity to have their voices heard in the democratic process. As a district, we must come together and ensure that every eligible individual is registered and included in the upcoming party elections” Mr John Bagenda said.
Meanwhile, the Manager and Head of the office of National Chairman (ONC), Hajjati Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye has warned the Registrars not to interfere or manipulate member details in the register to avoid having non-existent members at the end of the exercise.
Hajjat Namyalo made the comments while monitoring the registration exercise in areas of Kampala where several supporters complained about irregularities in the ongoing exercise such as some having their names missing in the yellow books while others had their names repeated several times.
Hajjat Namyalo urged the registrars and the leaders at the NRM secretariat at Kyadondo Road not to mess with what she described as Museveni’s Yellow book because this may cost the party’s political strength. She added that tampering with the registers may let down the president yet the exercise is meant to promote him and the party.
The ONC Boss also discovered that in some areas within and across the country where the exercise was taking place, the registrars were not well facilitated, leading to a low turn-up on the first day of the registration renewal and update exercise.
In some places she reached out personally, Hajjat Namyalo established that some people who have been deployed to carry out the exercise were facilitated with only Shs10,000/- (ten thousand Uganda shillings) which caters for breakfast, lunch and transport, something which she said was unfair given the nature and workload they have to undertake.
In Greater Mbarara Regions’ Ntungamo District, where the first Janet Museveni is the NRM District Chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi, the overall supervisor of the exercise witnessed a massive turnup for the exercise, with the bigwigs in the western district including RDCs, LC5 Chairperson, MPs all showing up to have their details updated.
The ONC Coordinator for Ntungamo Ms Birungi Winnie and Buzukulu Coordinator Ms Nsimenta Shallon also joined the NRM supporters in successfully updating their details in the NRM Yellow Book at Kyamate Cell, Kyamate Ward, in Ntungamo Municipality.
In Ibanda District however, particularly Kagongo Division, Kyaruhanga Ward KYEERETA Cell, the ONC District Coordinator Mr Mukwatsibwe Moses and Mr Abaine Benon, Muzukulu coordinator Greater Mbarara found no Registrar at the registration point, with the team registering a very low turn up in almost 10 villages reached out by Wednesday afternoon.
In Katakwi District, Vice President, H.E Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo who also doubles as the Chairperson Katakwi NRM Veterans League also updated her details in the ongoing at Oigo Imomwa Village, Aketa Parish, Ongongoja Sub County, Katakwi District on Wednesday afternoon, where she rallied the masses to embrace the exercise ahead of the forthcoming electoral activities in the party and the country at large.
NRM National Treasurer Hon. Amb. Nekesa Barbara Oundo, who also updated her membership in Busia district, emphasized the vital importance of the process. “We will use the same register for our structure elections shortly,” she remarked.
Oundo appealed to members to ensure their details were accurately captured, stressing alignment with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA)’s records.
“I urge everyone to utilize these five days to crosscheck their details in the NRM membership register,” she urged. “Remember, this is not a voter’s register but a register for party faithful aged 16 and above. Let’s approach this as a collective responsibility, with everyone playing a vigilant role,” she said.
The registration exercise launched by NRM National Chairman and President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta, at the party headquarters last month will run from today, March 13, 2023, to March 17, 2024. There will be a display of the NRM register in all 72,000 villages.
According to Richard Todwong, the Secretary General of NRM, the existing register has been cleaned, and only 11.4 million out of the 17 million were maintained.
“Last-minute conversions from other political parties have to be scrutinized carefully before being registered as NRM members, and the villagers should confirm that such persons have been pro-NRM in the NRM village activities.” Museveni said during the launc.
“Mobilization, holding meetings, and all those other efforts will be very easy if you go back to the NRM principles. The principles of the NRM are a diagnosis of the problems in Uganda. Those principles are at first a diagnosis; what is this Uganda suffering from? And then a prescription. Therefore, as you mobilize, first of all, understand these principles very clearly. That is why you, the leaders, must be different from the followers. A follower doesn’t have to understand the depth of the matter; he needs a summary,” Museveni added.
“Unlike in the past, where we used to update the register at the headquarters, the party shall have sub-regional data centres after collecting data from the villages, which is compiled at the sub-regional data centres before being forwarded to the party headquarters” he further Emphasized
A step-by-step guide on the NRM Registration and Update Exercise
Starting March 13th, 2024, a member of the NRM will just need to go to their NRM village office or designated location where the exercise is taking place and meet with their respective party registrars to present their details.
Upon receipt of the member details, the registrar will proceed to update the details or amend as presented in the NRM Yellow Book, which then certifies the member as a bonafide NRM cadre and eligible for the party’s electoral activities and the national elections at large.
What next after the NRM Register Update?
Upon conclusion of the registration exercise on 17th March 2024, the display of the new register will take place in all the 72000 villages in the country.
“On the final date (17th March 2024), all villages around the country will hold the Baraza to ascertain the details entered in the village register, this will help confirm that these are bonafide registered members in the ruling party, ” said Dr Tanga at the launch of the exercise last month.
Between March 19 and 24, Dr Tanga said the party shall call for expression of interest and nominate candidates for the party structures at the village and cell level and between arch 25 and 26, campaigns will be organized in every village.
“On March, 27, the party shall have polling and announcement of results of party structures at village level and on April, 5, the compiling of the register will start at the parish level, and on 12, a compilation of the voters register and polling of party structures will take place at sub-county and town council levels,” he stated.
The exercise will continue at municipal and city division levels on April, 16, district and city levels on April, 19 whereas between April, 20 and 30, will be for compilation of the register and sending final results to the party secretariat.”
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