The NRM secretariat officials during the launch of the party road map in Kampala on April 15, 2025. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has increased nomination fees for all party members intending to contest for elective positions in the forthcoming NRM party primaries, ahead of the 2026 General Elections. Under the new rates, those aspiring for the position of national chairperson will part with Shs20m, up from Shs10m.
Those vying for the position of 1st National Vice Chairperson (male) and 2nd National Vice Chairperson (female) will pay Shs10m up from Shs5m. Aspiring MPs are expected to pay Shs3m. They previously paid Shs2m while those contesting for President will be required to pay Shs20m. NRM District City chairpersons, who were previously paying Shs200,000, will now pay Shs500,000.
Lord councillors will part with Shs1m, away from Shs200,000 they were previously paying. Speaking to the media during the launch of the party road map in Kampala yesterday, NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko defended the increment, saying it was meant to finance the forthcoming party activities ahead of the general elections.
“This money will facilitate our internal elections. It is not enough compared to the activities we have lined up,” she said. She said part of the money will be used to pay nomination fees for flag bearers for all the NRM candidates. However, some of the contenders that the Daily Monitor interviewed yesterday criticised the increment, saying it will deny the country capable and efficient leaders who lack the financial muscle to contest for any position of their choice. Mr Eric Mukhwana, who is eyeing the Bungokho Central MP seat, said: “It means one needs about Shs6 million for both party nomination and general elections by the Electoral Commission (EC). This raises the cost of elections and in so doing, eliminates potential leaders who have no financial muscle.”
Mr Byansi Muhammed, the Mbarara City councillor, concurs, saying it will force potential contenders to join other political parties or contest as independents. Mr Sansabula Bukenya, who is aspiring for the Kalangala District chairperson, decried the commercialisation of politics. “Elections in Uganda are not for the faint-hearted—or the broke. Most of us young people are economically marginalised.
These fees will lock out many potential leaders. How are youth expected to compete if the process is already so expensive?” He wondered. Ms Rebecca Adie Moro, who has expressed interest in contesting for the Apac Woman MP seat on the NRM ticket, said: “This is a plan by some people within the party to block the poor youth from contesting.” “This is the idea of some elderly people in the party who fear competition from the young people. I am asking the top decision makers in the party to consider revising the fees so that the youth who do not have money are not blocked from contesting,” she added. Mr Benard Otim Odoc, an NRM member who is eyeing the Maruzi North County MP seat, said the unemployed will be eliminated automatically. “The academic qualification for one to contest as a Member of Parliament is an Advanced Level certificate. How will a student, who completed A-Level last year and wants to contest, get Shs3 million for nomination fees? This is a very big discrimination.
The poor will not afford it,” he said. The Jinja deputy mayor and female councillor for persons with disability, Ms Fazira Kawuma, said the high nomination fees will see more NRM cadres contesting as independents in future. "A slight increase would have been acceptable, but Shs500,000 for city councillors is too much," she said. Mr Samuel Kakaire, a Bugweri County aspirant, accused the NRM party of commercialising elections while Ms Debora Mwesigwa, an aspiring Kamuli District Woman MP, said the increment is intended to discourage new entrants. "But it won't deter me. I'm committed to getting the NRM card, and I'll pay whatever fee is set. The money will help run the party's day-to-day activities,” Ms Mwesigwa said. Ms Hellen Flavia Nagawa, a Kalangala District woman MP aspirant, however, said the increment was justifiable. “I honestly don’t have a problem with the increased nomination fees. In Kalangala, one sub-county alone has several islands.
You need a lot of fuel just to move from one village to another. It’s the political parties that often have to cover those costs. So, if the fees help boost party activities in such areas, I think it’s justified.” Mr Amos Mandela, a former legislator for Buyamba County in Rakai District, who is planning to reclaim the seat, said he has no issue with the increased fees because that is what comes with the responsibility the leaders are entrusted with. “I have no problem with that [fee] because they have the authority to do so.
However, it would be wise if there were some sort of consultation from other stakeholders to get their input,” he said. “My worry is the failure by the party leadership to put those funds to proper use,” he added. Ms Harriet Nandutu, an aspirant for the Manafwa District Woman MP, said the increment is fair, adding that it would help to support party activities. “The NRM is a party and it has organs like the secretariat, among others. It conducts party activities which need money, and also for as a candidate, you need to be financially stable before planning to contest for any position.”
They say...
Mark Itogoro Nyabihemu, Mbarara City Mayor aspirant.
‘‘I don’t see the reason why they increased. They do not give us even a bottle of water, and voting is lining up, so what are they going to use it for? They do not want people to contest. The households cannot even afford food, and you want leaders to pay Shs3m for MPs and mayors Shs1.5m. This is unreasonable.’’
Annah Kansiime, Rwampara District Woman MP aspirant.
‘‘ Contesting for political offices is an ambition. Even if they increase it to Shs10m, we shall contest. This is meant to scare us from participating but Ugandans now are very determined and if someone is determined, you cannot scare him or her away.’’
Joseph Odama, Vurra County aspirant.
‘‘For me, putting myself into the shoes of an ordinary person, it is very unfair coming at a time when it is too close to nomination time. I know this has been done to disorganise and disenfranchise formidable opponents, but this is going to benefit the Opposition. I would have thought that it is the stiff competition to deter contestants but not money limitations.’’
Fazira Kawuma, Jinja deputy mayor and Female Councillor for Persons with Disability.
‘‘ The high fees for nomination as flag bearers will see more NRM cadres contesting as independents in future if it’s not revised. A slight increase would have been acceptable, but Shs500,000 for city councillors is too much.’’
Samuel Kakaire, Bugweri County contender:
‘‘NRM is commercialising elections, and many people won’t participate in primaries due to unaffordable nomination fees. The party is supposed to cater to all, regardless of financial status. This will push many to run as independents.’’
Debora Mwesigwa, aspiring Kamuli District Woman MP:
‘‘The increment is intended to scare new entrants, but it won’t deter me. I’m committed to getting the NRM card, and I’ll pay whatever fee is set. The money will help run the party’s day-to-day activities.’’
Hellen Flavia Nagawa, aspiring Kalangala District Woman MP
“I honestly don’t have a problem with the increased nomination fees. In Kalangala, one sub-county alone has several islands. You need a lot of fuel just to move from one village to another. It’s the political parties that often have to cover those costs. So, if the fees help boost party activities in such areas, I think it’s justified.”
Sansabula Bukenya, aspiring Kalangala District chairperson
‘‘Elections in Uganda are not for the faint-hearted—or the broke. Most of us young people are economically marginalised. These fees will lock out many potential leaders. How are youth expected to compete if the process is already so expensive?’’
Amos Mandela, aspiring Buyamba County MP.
“According to me, I have no problem with that [fee] because they have the authority to do so. However it would be wise if there were some sort of consultation from other stakeholders to get their input. My worry is the failure by the party leadership to put those funds to proper use.’’
Muhammed Byansi, Mbarara City councillor.
This will stop some people from contesting in elections on NRM ticket and join other parties or become Independents. A councillor to pay Shs750,000 when he receives a salary of Shs170,000 in a month, that means the party will fail and they bring such structures when it is even too late. This shows that it is not moving on well for our party.
Previous chaotic NRM primaries;
NRM nomination fees structure;
National chairman from Shs10m to Shs20m
1st National Vice Chairperson (male) – from Shs5m to Shs10m
2nd National Vice Chairperson (Female) –from Shs5m to Shs10m
National Vice Chairperson of the regions - Shs5m
League chairpersons –Shs1m
Other Executive members - Shs500, 000
NRM District City Chairperson -Shs500, 000
District /City main stream Vice C/P - Shs50, 000
General Secretary- Shs50,000
Publicity secretary- Shs50,000
Secretary for finance Shs50,000
NRM/ city leagues C/P -Shs100,000
NRM district city league V-c/p - Shs100,000
General secretary- Shs100, 000
Publicity secretary -Shs100, 000
Secretary for finance -Shs100, 000
Municipality /city division main stream C/P -Shs200, 000
Municipality C/P city division leagues -Shs50, 000
NRM sub county mainstream C/P -Shs50, 000
Nomination fee for national positions
President -Shs20m
Member of Parliament-Shs3m
Lord Mayor – Shs1.5m
City Councilors – Shs500, 000
Lord Councilors –Shs1m
LCV Chairperson- Shs1m
LCV Councilor – Shs200, 000
City division mayors – Shs1m
Municipal Mayors – Shs750, 000
Municipal/ Division Councilors - Shs100, 000
Sub –county chairpersons- Shs20, 000
Town council chairpersons – Shs20, 000
Division Municipal chairpersons – Shs20, 000
Local government chairpersons- Shs20, 000
Sub-county councilors – Shs20, 000
Town council councilors – Shs20, 000
LC1 chairpersons - Shs10,000
Party primaries polling dates
Party structures – May 6, 2025
SIG Committees (youth, PWDs and older persons) - May 24, 2025
Member of Parliament (Constituency, district/ city and women MP)- July 16, 2025.
Local government council and municipal/city division mayors- July 24, 2025.
Local government council IV (Municipal /City division) councilors – August 18, 2025.
Local government council III (sub- county/town council /municipal division) will be elected on August 15, 2025.
Elective National conference to elect the NRM Presidential flag bearer, executive committee of CEC, executive committees of special organs at national level and special interest group MP flag bearers on August 25, 2025.
Compiled by Clement Aluma, Felix Ainebyoona, Hillary Twinamatsiko, Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa, Tausi Nakato & Abubaker Kirunda
