The National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegation, led by the Secretary General, Rt Hon Richard Todwong, on Friday visited the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party headquarters in Nairobi to discuss party structures, cadre development, and inter-party cooperation.
The NRM team engaged with their UDA counterparts, led by UDA Secretary General Sen. Omar Hassan, on strategies for building robust political institutions, including a proposal from UDA for its cadres to receive training at NRM's National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
Accompanying Todwong were Maj (Rtd) Awich Pollar, NRM's Director for External Affairs, and Col Okei Rukogota, Director of the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
The visit reciprocates the one by the Kenyan delegation earlier this year when they visited the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi and expressed interest in
of setting up their own political institute back home.
Todwong explained to the hosts how NRM was able to start from scratch in 1986, when there was no order until the ruling party built a formidable system that has integrated all cadres into the decision-making process.
“Building the party up to where we are today needed a lot of revolutionary discipline. And so we integrated our training in political discipline and military discipline,” Todwong said.
“The military teaches the cadre that it's about sacrifice. It is not about self-benefit. The other one, the political one, is the way of thinking, modifying our thinking, adjusting our thinking,” he said.
The visit also comes against the backdrop of a proposal by UDA to have their cadres trained at NALI as they make plans to build their institute.
“The sooner you select the beneficiaries, the better. The school is there already. We've been having some trainings there.” SG Todwong said.
On his part, Maj (Rtd) Awich Pollar said that since Uganda was in the election season, the UDA cadres destined for NALI would have the best experience when it comes to democracy, especially at the grassroots level.
“The beauty of having your students during this period is that they will be able to see other things. For example, we could have them attend and observe our national conference that will be part of the elections,” Pollar said.
“We could also take them to some villages and they see how transparent the elections are,” he added.
Pollar also said the students would be able to attend district conferences and learn how party development, recruitment, and continuity can be achieved.
The UDA Secretary General, Sen. Omar Hassan, expressed his gratitude to the Ugandan team for agreeing to host and train the UDA cadres at NALI.
He said UDA was looking at establishing a similar institute which can train both the high and low-level cadres.
“We wanted to have a very diverse school. Some place where those at our level of the NEC, those at the lowest level of our party, the minority, can find an opportunity to be a part of a team of 100,” he said.