The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has confirmed that the party will hold primaries for LCII Chairpersons and Parish Women Council Committees across the country on Friday, July 31, 2026.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, during a press briefing at the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala. He was accompanied by the Commission's Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Fred Jacan Omach, and Commissioner Hon. Amb. James Williams Kinobe.
Dr. Odoi said the party is advancing to the next phase of its Local Council electoral roadmap following a commanding performance in the recently concluded LCI Chairperson elections held on July 28.
According to provisional results, NRM flag bearers won 51,093 of the 71,214 LCI Chairperson positions, representing 71.7 percent of all villages. Independent candidates, most of whom are NRM-leaning, won 13,861 villages (19.5 percent), while all other political parties combined secured 3,971 villages (5.6 percent). Elections remain pending in 2,289 villages (3.2 percent).
Dr. Odoi congratulated the NRM fraternity on the victory and encouraged independent leaders who share the party's ideals to continue working closely with the NRM in advancing its programmes at the grassroots.
He explained that only elected members of the LCI Executive Committees in their respective villages are eligible to contest for the NRM flag as LCII Chairpersons. Likewise, members of the Village Women Council Committees will constitute the electoral college to elect NRM flag bearers for the Parish Women Council Committees.
Dr. Odoi clarified that in parishes where the National Electoral Commission is yet to conclude LCI elections, the NRM will first allow the Electoral Commission to complete the village polls on Saturday, August 1, 2026. Subject to clearance by the National Electoral Commission, the party will then conduct its LCII Chairperson and Parish Women Council primaries in the affected parishes on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
He further outlined the electoral roadmap, noting that nominations by the National Electoral Commission for LCII Chairperson and Parish Women Council candidates will take place on August 3, 2026. The general elections for Parish Women Councils are scheduled for August 7, while the LCII Chairperson elections will be held on August 10, 2026.
Dr. Odoi urged parish-level NRM leaders to ensure that candidates who emerge victorious in the party primaries promptly pick, complete and submit their nomination forms.
"Do not keep the forms at home," he cautioned, warning that failure to complete the nomination process could deny the party representation in the official elections.
He also stressed that every village must have a fully constituted 11-member LCI Executive Committee, noting that these leaders form the electoral college responsible for electing the NRM flag bearer for LCII Chairperson at the parish level.
On the voting procedure, Dr. Odoi reminded party members that the NRM primaries will be conducted by lining up, the same method that will be used by the National Electoral Commission during the official Local Council elections. He added that only registered voters whose names appear on the respective voters' registers will be allowed to participate.
Dr. Odoi said the NRM Electoral Commission will continue issuing periodic updates as the party progresses through the remaining stages of the Local Council electoral roadmap.