Gulu City – NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong has underscored the critical role of Local Council I (LC I) leaders in strengthening the party, urging members to rally behind official flag bearers as preparations intensify for the forthcoming village elections.
Closing the NRM Secretariat's sub-regional entry meeting for the Acholi sub-region at Acholi Inn in Gulu City, Todwong described LC I chairpersons as the foundation of both the party and the country's leadership structure.
"Every village is made up of households, and within the NRM Party, the LC I chairpersons are the party's household leaders. They are the bridge between the people and the leadership, reaching communities that even the President cannot reach personally," he said.
He noted that a strong and united village structure translates into a strong and peaceful party, adding that grassroots mobilisation remains the cornerstone of the NRM's continued growth.
Todwong announced that the party had successfully identified flag bearers in nearly all villages across the country, with only LC II positions pending since those leaders will later be elected from the LC I chairpersons at the parish level.
"Our immediate focus is on ensuring victory for our LC I flag bearers because that is where the strength of the party begins," he said.
The Secretary General, however, warned party leaders against sponsoring independent candidates to challenge official NRM flag bearers, describing the practice as a threat to party unity.
"We have received intelligence that some leaders are financing independents against our official candidates. If this is happening in your district, stop it immediately. That political disease undermines the party and weakens our structures," he cautioned.
Todwong also reflected on the transformation of the NRM Secretariat since assuming office, saying the party had overcome serious financial challenges that once threatened its operations.
"When I became Secretary General, the party did not even have a functional membership register. We were heavily indebted and could not even borrow Shs10 million from any financial institution because our credibility had been damaged," he said.
He recalled that the party conducted the 2006, 2011 and 2016 general elections largely on credit, resulting in mounting debts and frequent legal battles with unpaid suppliers.
"There was a time when court bailiffs were constantly at our offices over unpaid debts. Today, I can confidently say the party budget is free of any encumbrances. We have cleared all outstanding debts and owe nobody," Todwong said.
With the financial burden lifted, he said the Secretariat had shifted its focus to strengthening the party's physical infrastructure across the country.
Todwong revealed that the party has set aside Shs11 billion, collected from expression of interest fees, specifically for constructing permanent district party offices.
"We have already broken ground in some districts, and my goal before the end of my tenure is to ensure every district has a permanent NRM office. We are also establishing regional hubs to give our regional vice chairpersons proper offices," he said.
He added that the long-term vision is to decentralise party operations from Kampala to the grassroots while also embarking on the construction of a modern national party headquarters.
"The true strength of the party lies in its people, but permanent offices will give our members a home and strengthen our corporate identity across the country," Todwong said.