The NRM party will rely on its digital register to issue membership cards to all its members, Maj. (Rtd) Awich Pollar, the party’s Director for External Affairs, has revealed.
Maj. Awich said on Tuesday in Gulu City, where he is supervising the digitalisation of the NRM membership register in the Acholi sub-region.
“Once the digital register is in place and the party decides to issue membership cards, then it will be easy because every member will be identified with identical serial numbers in the system,” Awich said.
He added that Issuance of the membership cards will be simple and easy once the Central Executive Committee (CEC) takes a decision.
Although membership is proven by reference to the register, Awich said it is also important for a member to carry a mobile card for easy identification, especially during party activities like meetings, primary elections, and structure elections.
The Gulu city Data Centre Supervisor, Alfonse Opwonya said the exercise is already a success with some districts complete. “As far as we are concerned, we are covering nine districts and three of them including Gulu, Gulu City, and Oyam are full and their data is onto the system.
Regarding data security, Opwonya said they are enforcing very strict measures to ensure no unauthorized entries are made into the system.
“Our data entry clerks are working on clear terms and conditions not to carry cell phones or any kind of documents into the data entry hall,” he said.
Additionally, Opwonya said the network system set up by the IT teams prevents access to social media platforms to ensure that the system is strictly used for data entry.
Lango Data Centre
Mr Patrick Obura, the Lango Data Centre coordinator, said when complete, the NRM digital database will be a transformative milestone towards the growth of the party's internal democracy.
To Obura, computerising the NRM register is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Uganda, setting the ruling party apart from others, and I believe it will resolve many issues that previously plagued the internal elections, particularly during primaries.
“With a credible register, we aim to conduct smooth internal elections and strengthen our position in the national elections. We are proud to be part of this historic achievement and look forward to its positive impact on the future of the NRM,” Obura said as he appreciated the Party Chairman, President Yoweri Museveni, and the top management of the NRM Secretariat.