West Nile In Focus! Zombo NRM Intensifies Mobilization as Candidates Begin Nomination Process for Local Council Elections

West Nile In Focus! Zombo NRM Intensifies Mobilization as Candidates Begin Nomination Process for Local Council Elections

By Mike Rwothomio 

Zombo, Uganda : Zombo NRM Secretariat has called on party members and candidates to ramp up grassroots mobilization as aspirants for LCIII and parish councillor positions kick off the expression of interest and collection of nomination forms for the upcoming NRM party primaries, scheduled for August 15, 2025.

Speaking to journalists at the NRM district offices in Zombo Town Council on July 28, 2025, District Registrar Prisca Unegiu urged candidates to actively engage grassroots voters, noting that the expression of interest and nomination form collection has started with strong momentum.

Unegiu clarified that LCIII candidates will collect nomination forms from the district registrar’s office, while parish and ward councillor candidates will obtain theirs from sub-county registrar offices.

“I’m here to outline the election program as we proceed according to the roadmap. Today, July 28, marks the start of expression of interest and nomination form collection for all aspiring LCIII chairpersons and parish councillors,” she stated.

Per the electoral roadmap, nomination forms will be available from August 4 to 9. LCIII chairpersons will collect forms at the district offices, while parish councillors will do so at sub-county registrar offices.

 Candidate nominations will also occur from August 4 to 9, with the campaign period set for August 10 to 14, covering LCIII chairpersons, parish councillors, and Special Interest Group (SIG) councillors, including youth, persons with disabilities (PWD), and older persons.

“On August 15, we will hold the polling day for the primaries. Don’t forget to inform your voters that August 15 is the election day,” Unegiu emphasized. 

She added that primaries for non-unionized workers, such as members of the Border Board Association and other non-unionized groups, are scheduled for August 6 at sub-county levels, requiring a minimum of 10 participants per sub-county.

The roadmap also includes a district delegate conference on August 7, with submissions to the Electoral Commission (EC) for non-unionized workers scheduled for August 11 to 12.

 Primaries for SIG committee councillors, including youth (nine positions) and PWD (five positions), will take place on August 8 at the district level.

“SIG candidates must register at the district level on August 8, 2025. Only those who have participated from the village, parish, and sub-county levels are eligible,” Unegiu noted.

In the recent NRM primaries for MPs, LCV chairpersons, and district councillors, Zombo, with over 100,000 registered NRM members, saw low voter turnout. Some voters attributed this to results they felt did not reflect their preferences, while others cited the open voting method (lining up) as a deterrent to exercising their democratic rights.

Zombo’s Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Festus Ayikobua, speaking during the tallying of LCV and councillor results at the district headquarters last week, urged NRM members to intensify mobilization and highlight the party’s achievements to voters.

Meanwhile, Ora County MP Songa Biyika Lawrence and Zombo’s Woman MP candidate Topista Acamfua have filed petitions challenging the recent primary election results, with hearings set to begin soon. 

President Museveni has established an NRM dispute tribunal to address 381 registered petitions, commencing on July 29 and continuing until September 1, 2025.