KITAGWENDA: National Resistance Movement-NRM village mobilisers in Kitagwenda District have expressed dissatisfaction over what they describe as irregularities in the disbursement of grassroots mobilization funds meant to support party activities ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Several village and parish-level leaders say the funds released by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat were not fully disbursed to the intended beneficiaries, raising concerns over transparency and accountability within party structures.
The NRM secretariat rolled out a nationwide, parish-based mobilization strategy aimed at strengthening support for President Yoweri Museveni and other party candidates. The exercise relies on existing party structures at village and parish levels to mobilize voters.
Under the strategy, each village is expected to mobilize 63 NRM members, including 30 village structure leaders and representatives of youth, women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and elderly councils. Each member was allocated Shs 10,000 for transport refund and Shs 2,000 for refreshments.
However, village mobilisers who spoke to URN claim they received less money than expected or did not receive any facilitation at all. Peterson Nuwagaba, the NRM chairperson for Ihunga Cell in Nyakasura Parish, Mahyoro Sub-county, said only 29 people in his village received Shs 10,000 instead of the stipulated Shs 12,000.
Yowana Byaruhanga, the NRM PWDs chairperson for Nyakasura Parish, said only four members out of nine on the PWD committee received Shs 10,000.
Paul Kamuntu from Kengeya D Cell in Kengeya Parish said only 40 members were facilitated instead of all 63 mobilisers.
David Rugwere, a mobiliser from Ntabahara Cell, said he did not receive any facilitation or the party t-shirt he was entitled to under the guidelines.
While responding to the complaints, Moses Mushabe, the NRM Publicity Secretary for Kitagwenda District, said the discrepancies arose because not all mobilisers turned up for the meetings where the funds were disbursed.
He explained that the balance was handed to village NRM chairpersons to later pay those who missed the meetings.
Mushabe acknowledged that the party District Executive Committee has received complaints indicating that some village chairpersons failed to remit the money to the intended beneficiaries, but they have directed village chairpersons to ensure that all mobilisers receive their facilitation, including the Shs 2,000 meant for refreshments in villages where it had not been issued.
He noted that the funds were meant to support NRM vote mobilization and warned that continued complaints could negatively affect the party’s image.
Mushabe urged mobilisers who have not yet received their facilitation to follow up with their respective village chairpersons. He added that district leaders have also petitioned the NRM Secretariat to intervene and provide further guidance on the matter.
SOURCE: Uganda Radio Network
