Lira, Uganda | The Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, met district NRM executive committees from across Lango subregion on Saturday, August 16, at Good News Hotel in Lira City, where he was pressed on issues of internal party democracy, mobilization, and the role of national task forces in grassroots politics.
The meeting came just days before the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections scheduled for 27–28 August at Kololo Independence Grounds, where more than 24,000 delegates are expected to participate.
Baryomunsi is seeking to retain his seat as NRM CEC Vice Chairperson for Western Region, a race in which he faces 11 other contenders.
During the discussions, several district NRM officials expressed frustration with what they described as “strange faces” sent from the national level during election seasons to mobilize for the party in local communities.
The executives argued that such teams often stay in expensive hotels and carry cash, undermine district and village-level structures, yet lack knowledge of local realities and even basic language skills.
Lira District NRM Vice Chairperson George Abudul directly questioned why the CEC continued to dispatch such teams instead of empowering local party structures.
He argued that district committees were better placed to mobilize voters effectively, noting that outsiders could not even greet residents in the local language.
Abudul also criticized the system of lining up behind candidates during NRM primaries, warning that it sometimes caused domestic conflict within families when spouses disagreed on whom to support.
He said the party should reinstate the secret ballot system.
In response, Dr. Baryomunsi acknowledged the concerns and agreed that the issue needed review, stressing that mobilization should be driven by local party structures rather than outsiders.
He explained that NRM had shifted its primary election methods over the years, from electoral colleges in 2005 to secret ballots in 2010, and then back to lining up due to persistent complaints.
He noted that while the secret ballot empowered members, it also raised issues of vote buying while lining up posed transparency and security concerns.
He said the party would continue to review its systems since democracy remained a core principle of the NRM, and changes would follow the will of the majority.
Baryomunsi also responded to questions about the widespread practice of dishing out money during NRM primaries.
He said he valued his integrity over political expediency, insisting that he would rather lose an election than bribe voters with government resources.
He described such acts as theft and wasteful, undermining the credibility of the party.
The minister further cautioned against the growing political marriages between the NRM and opposition parties such as UPC and DP, arguing that such alliances risked weakening loyal NRM cadres.
Veteran journalist Rolex Akena Ogwal challenged Baryomunsi to advocate for NRM delegates in government business opportunities, including access to contracts.
He warned against leaders holding multiple roles, such as being MPs, CEC members, and district executives simultaneously, saying it compromised efficiency.
Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, NRM CEC Vice Chairperson for Central Region who accompanied Baryomunsi, told journalists after the meeting that the consultations were intended to collect views from grassroots leaders ahead of the national delegates’ conference.
He admitted that while NRM had performed poorly in the central region during the 2021 elections, efforts were underway to raise its support from 34% to over 60% in 2026.
Kiwanda added that empowering and funding local structures, protecting NRM flagbearers, and providing jobs for graduates through targeted district-based recruitment are among the key reforms being considered.
Baryomunsi also assured the delegates that the poor state of the Dokolo–Kaberamaido–Amolatar road had already been presented before Cabinet and was under consideration for government intervention.
He said he is committed to amplifying the concerns of Lango leaders at the national level.
