NRM reunion marathon launched in West Nile

By Andrew Cohen Amvesi  

ARUA. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) officials from the office of the President have launched the party reunion marathon in the West Nile sub-region.

The officials led by Frank Sserubiri, the national chairman of NRM pressure groups network launched the NRM reunion marathon during a function that attracted hundreds of different pressure group members in Arua city on Wednesday.

According to Sserubiri, the upcountry pressure groups will join their colleagues for the maiden NRM reunion marathon at Kololo Independence ground in Kampala on December 10, 2023.

He added that those who will not be able to make it to Kampala will be facilitated to mark the day in their respective districts and later follow the event on television.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to be the Chief Runner of the marathon organized under the theme: “Envisage for Economic Development.”

“Each district will participate in its area; we expect our marathon kits to be ready next week and each district will get its own kits and facilitation for buying some refreshments. Each district should participate on December 10, 2023. Those who will make it to Kololo are welcome and those who will not make it should participate in their respective districts,” Sserubiri emphasized.

“After the marathon, we shall move from district to district to reorganize and select pressure groups across the country. If you are in pressure group one, you can’t be in another but join up to work together. Come with your pressure group, your colleague should also come with his and you team up to work together in the district. That is how we expect to work going forward,” Sserubiri advised.

Sserubiri said they are doing all this for the love of President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM party chairman and also the Fountain of Honour.

“I want us (pressure groups) to get organized and be visible so that when an opportunity comes, it finds us well organized. Now that we are putting up networks, I want you to help me to have all pressure groups organized to make work easy. We are doing this for the love of Mzee (President Museveni), we want Mzee to come back in 2026 and we want MK next because Gen. Muhoozi is our next President,” Sserubiri said, attracting a loud applause from pressure group members at the home of former Vice President, Late. Mustafa Idris’ in Anyafio cell, Arua central division.

Mohamud Abdallah, the chairperson of West Nile Effort for Museveni welcomed the idea of the NRM reunion marathon which he said will help to unite pressure groups and NRM members in general ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Abdallah, however, noted that the different pressure groups in West Nile have tirelessly worked for NRM and President Museveni but in most cases, they are forgotten after elections.

“We want you to take our message to President Museveni that we need his support. We need his support to energize pressure groups to work. We also need support for business communities of West Nile, we need support for widows and orphans of former veterans in this region. Mzee should also consider giving us agricultural equipment such as tractors, chemicals, irrigation machines and market for our produce,” Abdallah appealed.

Karilo Jurua Alia, the chairperson of Yellow Brigade SACCO, another pressure group said it is very important for them to get organized in order to get support from President Museveni.

While flagging off the team at his office, Charles Ichogor, the Arua Resident City Commissioner (RCC) pledged total support to the pressure groups in the region.

“I’m very happy and I want to congratulate our pressure groups in West Nile for the right job you have done in this sub region. I want to pledge that I’m going to strengthen these pressure groups in the region. These are our foot soldiers; we need to empower them economically. So, we are going to find ways of empowering this team economically so as to have money in their pockets which is part of the NRM vision,” Ichogor said.

“It is now my role and yours and I will make sure that I’m going to work with you shoulder by shoulder to ensure that you are strengthened and you are empowered economically. I’m going to start lobbying for you such that you go on with your grassroot mobilization with ease,” Ichogor added.

The RCC later joined the team from the President’s office and the leadership of the pressure groups in endorsing President Museveni’s 2026 candidature.

The NRM reunion marathon launch was attended by the executive members of the different pressure groups in all the 13 districts in the West Nile sub-region.