2021 NRM Flagbearers to be Determined by Lining Behind Candidates, CEC Approves

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) sitting at State House Entebbe on the 16th July 2020 has approved the much awaited NRM election roadmap and adopted lining behind the candidates as a mode of voting.

In the NRM CEC members meeting chaired by President Museveni, members agreed on a number of contentious issues that had seen the meeting drag on for over three times.

According to the NRM Director of Information and Communications Hon Emmanuel Dombo, the election roadmap was adopted in the yesterday’s meeting and the mode of voting will be done in conformity with government regulations on Coronavirus restrictions.

He also said that the nomination for Special Interest Groups (SIG) will take place from 20th to 22nd July and voting for the same will be on 25th July 2020.

While election for MPs will take place on 7th September 2020, the LC 5 Chairpersons, Councilors, Municipal Mayors and Division Mayors, LC 3 chairpersons and their councilors will be on 28th August 2020.

Hon Dombo said that the election will take place on same day throughout the Country contrary to earlier reports that it would be held in Regions.

“Election for MPs will take place on 7th September 2020. LC 5 Chairpersons, Councilors, Municipal Mayors and Division Mayors, LC 3 chairpersons and their councilors will be on 28th August 2020. Voting is by lining behind candidates.” Dombo emphasised.

The Electoral Commission (EC) last month released its revised 2021 roadmap in which it banned mass campaign rallies in favor of radios, TVs and social media for candidates to canvas votes.

With the onset of the current Coronavirus pandemic, lining up may not adhere to the Ministry of Health guidelines including social distancing.

This had created an impasse among the members of the top organ of the ruling NRM party on what to do so as to balance between not violating the government health guidelines but also organize successful and credible primaries.