Speaking in an interview with Uganda Radio Network, Todwong made it clear that all aspiring candidates, regardless of their political history must undergo the party’s internal primary elections.
A photo montage of Kilak North MP Anthony Akol (former FDC), NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong and Amuru district Chairperson Michael Lakony (former FDC party member)
The National Resistance Movement
(NRM) Secretary General Richard Todwong has affirmed that no special favour will
be extended to former opposition politicians who have recently joined the NRM
party from the Acholi sub-region ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with Uganda
Radio Network, Todwong made it clear that all aspiring candidates, regardless
of their political history must undergo the party’s internal primary elections.
Todwong said that only contestants
who have won the primary elections will be handed the party flag to represent
the NRM party on the coming 2026 general elections.
//Cue in: “Its all about…
Cue out:…we shall support.”//
His remarks come amid growing
concerns and speculations within the NRM party, particularly in the Acholi sub-region
that the newly defected opposition figures might automatically receive the
party flag due to their previous electoral performances.
At least three opposition
politicians from Amuru and Gulu city joined the NRM party this year after years
of campaigning against the NRM party. They are Amuru district Chairperson
Michael Lakony, Kilak North Member of Parliament Anthony Akol, and
Bardege-Layibi Division Legislator Martin Ojara Mapenduzi all former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party members.
Todwong acknowledged that the
defection of the politicians into the NRM party caused internal rift among NRM
members in the sub-region but noted that they managed to resolve it amicably.
//Cue in: “When they came…
Cue out:…work with you.”//
According to Todwong, the
defection of the former members of the opposition party is an advantage to the government
in terms of disseminating information to the community arguing that the same
politicians had in the past been distorting their information.
//Cue in: “We believe that..
Cue out:…without being distorted.”//
NRM party launched its electoral
road map in April this year ahead of the 2026 general elections. The electoral process
kicked off on May 6, with the election for its party structures at the village level
and LCI Chairpersons flag bearers.
Meanwhile call for expression of interest
and picking of nomination forms for members of parliament and LCV Chairpersons
is expected to held between June 2 to June 15. NRM party boasts of some 19.8
million voters in their party register according to the NRM secretariat.
