Amuria, Uganda | The State Minister for Works and Member of Parliament for Amuria Constituency, Musa Ecweru, has raised concern over the growing tendency by the NRM Secretariat to deploy high-profile figures from Kampala to mobilize support for President Yoweri Museveni in the Teso sub-region.
According to the minister, this approach undermines local mobilizers who are more familiar with the communities they serve.
He emphasized that local leaders and grassroots structures are better positioned to communicate the NRM’s message and rally support effectively if given adequate facilitation.
Ecweru pointed out that the Teso region has shown significant growth in NRM support in recent years, driven largely by the dedication of local party cadres.
He believes this success can be strengthened further by investing directly in grassroots mobilization efforts rather than importing external actors who may lack connection to the area’s political and cultural context.
In a meeting held in Wera Sub-County, Amuria District, Ecweru used the opportunity to call for stronger internal party structures and enhanced transparency.
He cited past instances where mobilization funds meant for local NRM leagues including the Youth, Women, Veterans, and Persons with Disabilities were mismanaged or diverted by district leaders.
He specifically accused the current NRM District Chairperson for Amuria of failing to channel facilitation funds to the appropriate leagues during the 2021 elections.
The minister described this as a betrayal of party values and indicated his intention to challenge the current leadership in upcoming internal elections to restore accountability.
Ecweru underlined the importance of building strong and transparent party systems rooted in the community.
He stressed that effective leadership at the local level would ensure government resources reach their intended targets and enable NRM to deliver on its promises.
He reaffirmed that government provides funding to political parties based on their strength and performance, and these resources are meant to reach every corner of the country, not be hoarded by a few individuals at the top.
With general elections on the horizon, Ecweru urged residents across Teso to focus on unity and vigilance.
He insisted that true progress and effective mobilization begin at the grassroots not with outsiders flown in from Kampala.
The minister concluded his remarks by calling on the NRM Secretariat to rethink its mobilization strategy and place greater trust in the capable hands of local leaders who have consistently delivered results for the party.