Like or hate it, NRM political party is the thing. The conduct this week, of the NRM voter registration verification update, election for party structures, and Local Council one (LC1) flag-bearers at the village grassroot level has generated political momentum. Preliminary results indicate a massive show up across the country, with most areas positions agreed upon through mutual consensus while others witnessed intense power struggles including fist-fights where police had to intervene. The contest for LC1 chairperson flag-bearer, on account of the village stamp, that a chairperson controls for transactions like livestock and land sale, was the most competitive and contentious with some candidates even fainting upon losing.

With this massive turn up, active and impressive participation, NRM should be confident that it has already feet ahead towards victory in next year’s general elections at all levels, and our political adversaries NUP, FDC, UPC, and DP can only look for a few spoils to share among themselves, although the public should not be very surprised when they throw public tantrums.

Ordinarily, if all these positions are fully constituted, NRM ought to have at the very least 2,232,000 village-grassroot leaders. Unfortunately, perhaps due to poor mobilisation, and considering that all are voluntary, in many villages, the executive committees of the five party organs, otherwise called leagues, remained unfilled. Thus, the NRM boast, of being a mass and grassroot party, need to be taken with a light dose of caution.

These grassroots activities are great for general mobilisation, vital for strengthening and sustaining party organisation. A credible and up-to-date register indicating a member’s serial number, full names, date of birth, national identity card and voter registration detail, now allows NRM to identify and engage genuine members, and as well look out to fish beyond its borders.

By holding these multiple elections at the village level, the foundation of NRM political structure, we should ensure that NRM remains relevant and strong from the bottom-up. This process also gives NRM a further opportunity to collect the views and aspirations of the public which should form the next election manifesto and policy agenda.

In these times of widespread heightened political anger, cynicism, and polarisation, NRM must lead the way towards ameliorating inclusive discourse on harmony, while also get ready for a decisive confrontation with the looming tide of dark forces of election fraud, bribery, intimidation, aggression and violence especially during the election of MP flag-bearers.

As NRM heads to the next series of internal elections for parishes, sub-counties, districts, and primaries for MPs, it must anticipate and plan better how to manage the headwinds from winners, and the unsuccessful because it is usually at the upper stages that the stakes are really high, evoking unimaginable violence . And yet, what should matter most is the unity of purpose that follows for the greater good of the party, democracy and country.

Going by past experiences, hordes of ministers and sitting MPs are destined be felled by novice newcomers especially in these times when they are seen to have unfairly dipped their hands in the public till. The match-up, between former Parliament Speaker of ten years, Rebecca Rebeca Kadaga, and current Speaker Annet Anita Among, both with political pluck to settle scores, for the Second National vice chairperson (female) and member NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC), is a race to watch.

As already seen at the lower stages of these elections, voters can make the illicit money not count for much to the not-so-clean politicians hoping to use soft money to win seats. Together, and in coordination, Ugandans can actually make those being accused of corruption and other forms of malfeasance pay by voters receiving the salt, sugar, soap, money and whatever else may be distributed, but deny giving them the votes they so much need to further feather their nests.