National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ruling party, on Monday officially kicked off the nomination process for aspirants seeking to contest for Parliamentary seats ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The exercise, which began at the party’s Electoral Commission offices in Kyadondo, saw a number of high-profile leaders pick up expression of interest forms, signaling the start of what promises to be a competitive internal process.
Among the first to pick forms was Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who reaffirmed her commitment to the party and praised the NRM’s structured and transparent approach to internal democracy.
“NRM has been and will always be a democratic party,” she said after collecting her forms. Asked whether she would consider running as an independent should she lose in the primaries, Among dismissed the idea, confidently stating, “I am a tested leader. I cannot fail to go through the party primaries.”
Vice President Jessica Alupo, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem, former Minister for the Presidency Esther Mbayo, Workers’ MP Arinaitwe Rwakajara, and NRM Women’s League Chairperson Lydia Wanyoto Mutende also picked forms on the opening day, highlighting the gravity and momentum of the exercise.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa took to his official X account to announce his re-election bid for Ruhinda North Constituency.
“I picked up nomination forms from the @NRMOnline Electoral Commission headquarters at Kyadondo to run for Member of Parliament for Ruhinda North Constituency,” Tayebwa posted. “To me, leadership means going down to the communities, listening to the people, and bringing their voices to national and global platforms wherever I have the opportunity to represent them.”
He applauded the NRM Electoral Commission for a smooth start to the nomination process and pledged to fully comply with party guidelines.
In a surprising move, former Makerere University Guild President Lawrence Alionzi, popularly known as Dangote, officially crossed over to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, exiting the National Unity Platform (NUP).
He also picked nomination forms to contest for the Arua City mayoral seat in the 2026 elections.
Overseeing the exercise, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi assured the public that the party remains committed to a free, fair, and credible internal electoral process as it prepares for the 2026 national polls.
With the roadmap officially launched, the coming weeks are expected to see a surge in political activity within the ruling party as more aspirants declare their intentions and vie for the party’s ticket across the country.
