By George Bukenya
As the 2026 general election draws near, more than 1,000 NRM members preparing to contest for MP seats in the 12th Parliament have picked nomination forms in the first three days.
On June 5, 2025, the party’s electoral commission chairman Dr. Tanga Odoi revealed that a total of 1,044 individuals had expressed interest in contesting for NRM flag bearer and these include the directly elected parliamentary seats, women MP position and other interest groups.
Of the 1,044, 728 are aspiring for direct constituency seats, 288 for district woman positions while only 28 picked for special interest groups like Elderly, People with Disability and Youth.
Other aspirants like those in the proposed new districts where busy engaging the party’s legal team trying to find out the legibility of contesting in the former district.
“ The overwhelming turnout demonstrates that NRM’s grassroots election exercise is transparent and competitive because even MPs who won as independents in the 2021 general elections also express interest.’’ Dr. Tanga said.
The collection of nomination forms according to Dr. Tanga will continue up to June 15, while official nominations are expected to commence on June 17.
Many aspirants interviewed by this reporter expressed satisfaction by the service rendered to them during the exercise.
Among those expressed interest include, former youth MP for Central region and Uganda Netball Federation President Babirye Kityo who will be contesting for Mawokota District Woman MP seat Former Kampala RDC Hood Hussien for Busia North City and Rose Kirabira also former RDC for Wakiso District and she will be contesting for the same district woman parliamentary seat.