The Electoral Commission of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has issued strict guidelines for all Parliamentary, Mayoral, and LC5 aspirants ahead of the party’s internal elections scheduled for July 16, 2025.
The Commission has warned that any candidate who violates the rules will face disciplinary action.
Campaigns officially kicked off on Tuesday following the close of nominations. However, confusion was reported across the country due to the absence of clear directives, with many candidates unsure about campaign procedures amid ongoing discussions around compulsory joint campaigns.
Speaking in Kampala, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi emphasized that the newly issued rules are binding on all candidates and are intended to ensure peaceful, fair, and orderly campaigns.
Among the key provisions is a ban on character assassination and personal attacks. Candidates are also prohibited from carrying firearms or using private public address systems.
All campaign materials, including sound systems, will be provided and managed by the party. Additionally, the Commission announced that campaign activities will be fully funded by the NRM to ensure a level playing field. Candidates are expected to strictly follow the official campaign schedule without deviation.
Public engagement rules have also been tightened. Audience questions will only be allowed after all candidates have spoken, and provocative or malicious questions will be disallowed.
Meanwhile, nominations for positions on the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) also opened on Tuesday. Among those who picked nomination forms were Michael Mawanda (aspiring for Vice Chairperson, Western Region), Daniel Fred Kidega (Northern Region), and Joseph Mukasa Sewaava (Central Region).
Shadrack Nzaire Kaguta, a brother to President Yoweri Museveni, also picked forms to contest for the Western Region Vice Chairperson seat. He pledged to foster party unity and broaden NRM’s support in the region.
While Parliamentary candidates are elected through the lining-up method, the CEC aspirants go through a more rigorous process. After nomination, they undergo vetting by the outgoing CEC chaired by the party president.
This involves interviews and background checks to assess leadership suitability. Final elections take place at the NRM National Delegates Conference, where vetted candidates are voted on by delegates representing district structures, special interest groups, and diaspora branches.
This year’s Delegates Conference is scheduled for August 22, 2025, at Namboole Stadium.
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