State House dinner raises Shs16 billion for NRM House

An artistic impression of the Movement House that the ruling party intends to build behind Crested Towers in Kampala.

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Fundraising. The two dinners, held on Thursday and Friday, were attended by companies and individuals from the business community across the country.

Kampala. A total of Shs16 billion was collected at the two fundraising dinners President and NRM chairman Yoweri Museveni hosted at State House in Entebbe to mobilise funds for the construction of the 27-storey Movement House.
The two dinners, held on Thursday and Friday, were attended by companies and individuals from the business community across the country.
The NRM National Treasurer, Ms Rose Namayanja, said the party has already secured the land title for the site, which she said is behind Crested Towers. She said the Movement House will comprise 27 storeys to symbolise the first 27 guns and armed fighters of the National Resistance Army/Movement that launched the five-year guerrilla war on February 6, 1981.
“We are now working on project documentation. We have contacted a consultant to study the site eligibility for the building. In one month, we shall break ground and construction will start immediately. That is our priority. We want to build a strong sustainable financial base for the party,” Ms Namayanja said.
“When we have that building, we shall stop renting and will also rent out some space, which will bring monthly income to the party,” she added.
Ms Namayanja, who coordinated the fundraising in collaboration with the NRM Secretary General, Ms Kasule Lulmumba, said the two dinners at State House were attended by about 300 people from the business community.
The communications officer at the NRM Secretariat, Mr Rogers Mulindwa, said they had targeted Shs10 billion from the dinners but they collected Shs16 billion in cash and pledges. He said more fundraising events will be held upcountry to reach their members in the remotest parts of the country through the party’s district branches. He did not say when they will start.
“The NRM as a party is needy and needed support from its members and friends. The money will not only go to construction of the party headquarters but also towards other party projects as may be decided by the NRM top leadership,” Mr Mulindwa said.
He declined to disclose some of the prominent business people at the dinners or how they contributed.
Mr Mulindwa quoted President Museveni praising the party secretariat leaders as “a dedicated team of young people.” He said Mr Museveni was impressed by the fundraising initiative, which he [President] said had been lacking in the party previously.
Mr Mulindwa denied claims in some media that the business community was pressured to attend the fundraising dinners.
“It was purely on voluntary basis,” he said.