Uthman Moves To Run For SG Mbale City NRM Main Stream Ahead Of The2026 General Elections

Mbale City Businessman and Hotel Boss, Mr. Mugoya Uthman Asuman has moved to contest in the ongoing NRM structure elections ahead of the 2026 General elections.

Uthman is contesting for the position of the Secretary General, Mbale City NRM Main Stream.

What You Need To Know:

Recently, a group of residents, mainly youths from Industrial Division, in Mbale City, Easter Region requested Elgon Hotel Director, Mr Mugoya Uthman to represent them in parliament come 2026.

Mugoya and Meddy enjoying Bikuka tournament.

A group of youths headed by Musisi Musa informed this publication that as youths and residents of Industrial City, they are pushing & fronting Mr. Mugoya to contest as Member of parliament in 2026.

They claim Mugoya has been part of them for a long time and understands the challenges youths face. 

"Mugoya is very loyal and has been supporting us in small activities like funding football tournaments ie "Bikuka", he has helped pay bills for the sick in case they get stick, he promotes talents, most especially sports he is an innovator who gives jobs to over 200 youths in the City" - Musisi musa said .

Mr Mugoya Uthman is the current president Mbale sports club, Director Mt. Elgon hotel, one of the oldest and diplomatic Hotels in Mbale, he is also the Director of  Roots Cafe, 

Mugoya playing Golf 

Being a sports person, He was elected Vice president Mbale heroes fc.

Mugoya handing over a trophy to the winners in Bikuka tournament 

Currently, Karim Masaba is the area Mp of Industria Division City, serving his first term in parliament on an independent ticket but NUP leaning. 

Rea More..........

Nrm Structure election

Overview of NRM Structure Elections

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is Uganda’s ruling political party, led by President Yoweri Museveni since 1986. 

The NRM conducts internal party elections to select leaders for its grassroots and higher-level structures, which are critical for mobilizing support, selecting candidates, and maintaining party dominance ahead of national elections. 

These structure elections occur at various levels, including village, sub-county, municipality, and district levels, and are part of the party’s preparation for general elections, such as the upcoming 2025/2026 cycle.

Key Features of NRM Structure Elections

Purpose:

Grassroots Mobilization: The elections establish party leadership at local levels (e.g., village, parish, sub-county) for organizing campaigns, voter outreach, and candidate selection.

Candidate Selection: They determine flag bearers for local council (LC) positions and parliamentary primaries, aligning with national electoral processes.

Party Cohesion: The process reinforces NRM’s dominance by ensuring loyalists occupy key party positions, often through patronage networks.

Structure and Levels:

The NRM operates a hierarchical structure, starting with Village Party Structure Officials and Local Council (LC1) Chairpersons at the grassroots level, moving up to sub-county, municipality/division, and district levels.

These elections involve selecting leaders like chairpersons, secretaries, and other officials who manage party activities locally.

Recent Developments (2025):

Roadmap for 2025/2026 Elections: The NRM released a political roadmap in April 2025, outlining internal elections from April 2025 to February 2026. Key dates include:

April 24, 2025: Expression of interest and nomination for LC1 chairpersons and village party officials.

May 6, 2025: Elections for LC1 flag bearers and village officials.

May 16, 2025: Sub-county level elections.

May 19, 2025: City division level elections.

May 23, 2025: District level elections.

July 16, 2025: Primaries for parliamentary candidates.

October 2–3, 2025: Nomination of presidential candidates.

January 12–February 9, 2026: National polling for president, MPs, and local councils.

Village-Level Elections (May 2025): These elections saw high participation, with about 72,000 villages voting, though issues like missing voter names, alleged illegal voting, and violence were reported in areas like Gulu and Karamoja. The NRM removed 958,336 names from its register post-election due to deceased members or defections.

Security and Oversight: The Minister for Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, directed Resident District/City Commissioners (RDCs/RCCs) to ensure peace during the May 6, 2025, village elections, with instructions for those wishing to contest to resign by May 5, 2025, to avoid interference.

Challenges and Criticisms:

Irregularities: Reports of chaos, missing voter names, and allegations of rigging surfaced during the 2025 village elections. The NRM’s Electoral Commission, led by Dr. Tanga Odoi, faced accusations of bias and inadequate capacity.

Violence: Historical NRM elections (e.g., 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016) have been marred by violence, with the 2025 primaries seeing clashes in some regions.

Patronage and Incumbency: The NRM’s dominance is attributed to its fusion with state apparatus, using patronage and resources to favor loyalists, which critics argue undermines democratic fairness.

Electoral Commission Concerns: The NRM’s internal Electoral Commission and Uganda’s national Electoral Commission are often criticized for lacking independence, with allegations of favoring NRM candidates.

Historical Context:

The NRM introduced Resistance Councils (RCs), later renamed Local Councils (LCs) in 1993, as grassroots structures to promote participatory democracy. However, these have been criticized for becoming tools of NRM control, with councilors often distributing funds to supporters to secure votes.

The 1995 Constitution and 1997 Local Government Act aimed to decentralize power, but local councils have limited influence on national policy, and no village/parish elections occurred between 2001 and 2018.

The NRM’s shift from a no-party “movement” system (1986–2005) to a multiparty system post-2005 has been seen as a strategic move to maintain Museveni’s power, especially after the removal of presidential term limits in 2005.

Sentiment and Current Dynamics

Recent posts on X reflect mixed sentiments:

The NRM’s official account (@NRMOnline

) promoted the 2025 structure elections as transparent and participatory, releasing guidelines for sub-county and municipality elections.

Critics, like @IamBradleyCarl

, allege rigging by the Electoral Commission in favor of the NRM, indicating distrust in the process.

Observers, such as @NellyKapo

, suggest a “wind of change” within the NRM, hinting at internal competition and potential shifts in leadership.

Critical Perspective

While the NRM portrays its structure elections as democratic, the process is heavily influenced by its entrenched power, with state resources and patronage networks ensuring loyalty. The lack of credible opposition, combined with reported electoral irregularities, suggests these elections prioritize consolidating NRM control over fostering genuine democratic competition. International observers, including the U.S. and EU, have raised concerns about Uganda’s electoral credibility, particularly after the 2021 elections, which applies to internal NRM processes as well.