NRM unveils 2021 political roadmap, demand more districts

Kampala. In a bid to retain power in the 2021 elections, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has released its political roadmap, highlighting activities that will ensure them victory over the Opposition.

The roadmap was released yesterday by the Secretary General, Ms Justine Kasule Lumumba, at a function held at the party headquarters in Kampala.
In the roadmap, some of the key activities of 2019 are to mobilise Ugandans to register with National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) for their details to be captured on the National Voters Register, pushing for enactment of enabling electoral laws through NRM parliamentary caucus, electing structures in new administrative units, and carrying out a national political assessment.

Other activities on the roadmap include demarcation of constituencies, electoral areas and reorganisation of polling stations, compiling the party’s national register, holding district conferences, and the national conference (November 2019) where constitutional amendments will be discussed.

In 2020, the NRM will constitute countrywide structures, mobilise registered members to participate in updating of national voters register, and hold primary elections for special interest groups. Competitive politicking in the NRM is expected in May 2020, when the primary elections for both parliamentary and local government flag bearers will be elected.
The roadmap does not specify whether this will still be through adult suffrage or by electoral colleges.

The National Conference will then convene in June 2020 for the election of the national structures and presidential candidate before the launch of the party manifesto by August 2020.
Ms Lumumba said the new roadmap has been designed to prepare the NRM for victory at all levels in the 2021 elections, adding that the government has delivered on the 2016 promises of; improved road network, power generation, peace and unity, democracy, improved household incomes, rural electrification, among others.

“This political roadmap highlights the activities and programmes to be undertaken to ensure victory for the NRM come 2021” Ms Lumumba said.
She said the NRM will not deviate from its core values of; nationalism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic transformation and democracy as it seeks to hold on to power for another five year term.

Meanwhile, Ms Lumumba defended the NRM’s agenda of creating more administrative units saying they are based on demands by the people looking for extension of services and leadership nearer to them.
While launching its roadmap for the 2021 general elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) asked the government to stop the creation of new districts, constituencies, and other lower local governments because they would affect the planning and budgeting process. The EC wants at least Shs868b to organise the 2021 elections.

However, Ms Lumumba said the ruling party has made the creation of new administrative units a priority because it intends to deliver more services to the people who put it into power.
“NRM is a party of the people. When they want something, we give them. The other issues of funds are not our problem,” she said.
The EC is yet to organise elections for Woman MP and LC 5 chairpersons in the six new districts that have been operational since July 1, 2019 citing lack of funds from the treasury.

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