From Grassroots To Kingmakers: Namyalo’s ONC Army Dominates NRM Structures With 1,680 Sub-County Chairpersons

Kyambogo, Uganda – The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) has emerged as the dominant force in the ruling NRM party’s grassroots elections, securing over 1.3 million leadership positions across villages, parishes, and sub-counties, according to figures released by its head, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo.

The sweeping victories position ONC-aligned leaders as key players in determining delegates for the NRM’s August National Conference, where critical party decisions will be made ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Speaking to a gathering of coordinators at the ONC headquarters in Kyambogo on Tuesday, Namyalo presented a detailed breakdown of the election results, framing them as a grassroots mandate for continuity.

“Out of 2.16 million positions from 72,000 villages, ONC secured 1,348,981—including chairpersons, secretaries, and league leaders,” she announced, her remarks met with cheers from supporters. The numbers, she argued, reflect a growing momentum that cannot be ignored, particularly as the party prepares for district-level elections next week.

The ONC’s influence appears most pronounced at the sub-county level, where political competition is fiercest. Of the 2,191 sub-county chairperson positions nationwide, ONC-backed candidates claimed 1,680—a staggering 77% of the total. “That’s fire on the ground,” Namyalo declared, dismissing whispers within NRM circles that ONC delegates might be sidelined from the upcoming conference. “You can stop Namyalo, but you’re not going to stop my delegates. They are already in the structure. They are the voters on the ground.”

Her confidence stems not just from the numbers but also from the perceived backing of President Yoweri Museveni, whom she credited for providing “small facilitation” that fueled the campaign’s success. Yet the remarks also carried a sharper edge, as she accused unnamed NRM electoral officials of colluding with Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and security officers to undermine ONC candidates. “We know the tricks,” she said, vowing that her team would “by all means” be present at the Namboole conference.

The ONC’s rise has injected fresh dynamics into the NRM’s internal politics. Analysts see the results as evidence of a generational shift, with younger, ONC-aligned leaders displacing older elites in many areas.

This trend, if sustained, could reshape the party’s Central Executive Committee and influence its strategy for 2026. Namyalo leaned into this narrative, framing the victories as a mandate from the bazzukulu (grandchildren) of the revolution—a term often used to describe the NRM’s youthful base. “We are settling for the best, not for less,” she said, to applause. “We are demanding our Jajja to stay forever.”

But the dominance of ONC has not been without controversy. Critics within the party privately question whether the figures reflect genuine support or the strategic deployment of resources to secure loyalty. Others worry that the consolidation of power under ONC could deepen factional divides ahead of a high-stakes election cycle.

For now, however, Namyalo’s message is one of inevitability. With district elections looming and the delegates conference on the horizon, the ONC’s grassroots army appears poised to play a decisive role in shaping the NRM’s future—whether the party’s establishment is ready for it or not.