NRM Warns Against Misuse of Campaign Funds As LC1 Election Nears
By Patrick Okino
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has warned party leaders against mismanaging campaign funds, saying those found culpable will face action as the party intensifies preparations for the upcoming Local Council One (LC1) elections.
NRM Regional Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Denis Hamson Obua, said the party would not tolerate the misuse of resources, especially at a time when it is struggling to mobilize additional funds in the near future campaigns.
Obua made the remarks during a meeting of NRM leaders from the Lango sub-region held at Lira Hotel on July 19. The leaders had appealed to the party leadership to increase the Shs50,000 allocated to each NRM village flag bearer, arguing that the amount is insufficient to support effective mobilization.
His comments come amid concerns over the alleged mismanagement of campaign funds within the party. Recently, during a meeting in Apac District, local mobilizers questioned the handling of Shs186 million that had been released to facilitate grassroots mobilization and campaigns in the January 15th elections.
NRM sub-county leaders in Oyam District accused the district executive committee of allegedly misappropriating more than Shs300 million intended for grassroots mobilization.
At the Lira meeting, Lira District NRM Chairperson and Woman Member of Parliament Linda Auma also accused the district party registrar, Moses Okello, of mishandling Shs1 million that had been released by the party to facilitate a District Executive Committee meeting ahead of the LC1 elections.
Obua emphasized that calls for increased funding must go hand in hand with improved accountability.
“As we are struggling to get more money, the alleged mismanagement must also come down because more money can mean more mismanagement,” Obua said.
He noted that while he supports planning from the grassroots upwards, budgeting for every level of the party structure would require enormous financial resources.
“I agree with the proposal to start planning from the lower structures upwards, but if every district were to budget independently for the entire NRM structure, the total would exceed Uganda’s national budget,” he said.
Obua urged party leaders to uphold transparency and accountability as they mobilize support for the LC1 elections scheduled for July 28.
He identified Amolatar, Dokolo, and Alebtong as political hotspots in the Lango sub-region, noting that the parliamentary seats in those districts are currently held by members of the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).
“We need to work harder to reclaim these areas for the NRM,” he said.
The NRM Director for External Affairs, Pollar Awic, also called on party leaders to ensure that funds released by the party reach their intended beneficiaries, including women leaders and LC1 flag bearers.
He warned against diverting campaign resources, saying what happened in Apac could become standard practice across the country.
“What we have done in Apac should become a best practice. If anyone abused funds during the previous elections, appropriate action will be taken because the NRM does not condone corruption,” Awic said.
Meanwhile, MP Linda Auma welcomed the party’s strategy of organizing community barazas, facilitating flag bearers, and fast-tracking the endorsement of village candidates.
She urged NRM members to take the village elections seriously, saying they form the foundation of service delivery and government programmes.
“This is a very important election because it is at the village level where service delivery begins and where people start benefiting from government programmes,” Auma said.
She called on voters to elect NRM candidates for LC1 chairperson, LC2 chairperson, and Women Council leadership positions to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures.
