Parish and village leaders of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in several sub-counties in Bududa District have raised concern over the alleged misuse of funds meant to facilitate grassroots mobilisation in support of President Yoweri Museveni ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The leaders, comprising 30 village structure leaders, including representatives of the youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), women, and the elderly, are from Busiriwa, Bumwalukan, and Kuwushu town council.
“But instead, the villages are receiving two hundred and three hundred thousand shillings from the District NRM Executive Council, and we have been denied the opportunity to ask questions while receiving reduced funds for village members,” said Mr Stephen Mawanga, the NRM chairperson for Shiyabi West Village in Shikholo Parish, Bumwalukani Sub-county. The leaders are tasked with moving village to village and conducting door-to-door campaigns for President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers.
Mr. Moses Netuye, the NRM flag bearer councillor for Buyi Parish in Busiriwa Sub-county, noted that out of the 11 villages in Buyi Parish, leaders received only Shs 2.7 million instead of the expected Shs 6,930,000, which was meant to facilitate 693 members from the villages in the parish.
“Now voices from the grassroots are claiming that if leaders ‘eat’ money meant to facilitate transport during mobilization for President Museveni, they may instead vote for other candidates,” he said.
Ms. Agnes Nandutu, the Woman Member of Parliament for Bududa District, condemned the way the District NRM Executive Council is handling the Parish-Based Grassroots Mobilisation Programme.
“I have communicated with Members of Parliament from other regions-Western and Northern Uganda-and villages there are receiving Shs630,000. What is wrong with Bududa? Let justice be done. Let the NRM District Executive bring justice to the people, exercise transparency, and give village members the money that comes from their party,” Ms. Nandutu said.
Responding to the allegations, Mr. Andrew Nakhaboya, the NRM Publicity Secretary for Bududa District, said that under the initial guidelines from the party secretariat, district leaders were instructed to deliver the funds only to members who were present, which is why the amount received in each village was reduced.
“However, we received the new directive instructing, instructing District NRM councils to deliver the full amount Shs 630,000 to every village, as the funds are meant for 63 members, with each member receiving Shs 10,000 as transport facilitation while mobilizing support for President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers,” he said.