NEWS- The National Resistance Movement delegation, led by the Secretary General Hon Richard Todwong on Friday visited the United Democratic Alliance party headquarters in Nairobi Kenya to discuss party structures, cadre development and inter-party cooperation.
The NRM team engaged with their United Democratic Alliance counterparts led by the Secretary General Omar Hassan, on strategies for building robust political institutions, including a proposal from United Democratic Alliance for its cadres to receive training at NRM’s National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
Hon Todwong was accompanied by the National Resistance Movement Director for External Affairs Major Pollar Awich and Col Okei Rukogota, Director of the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
The visit reciprocates the one by the Kenyan delegation earlier this year when they visited the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi and expressed interest in setting up their own political institute back home.
During the meeting, Hon Todwong explained to the hosts how NRM was able to start from scratch in 1986, when there was no order until the ruling party built a formidable system that has integrated all cadres into the decision-making process.
“Building the party up to where we are today needed a lot of revolutionary discipline. And so we integrated our training in political discipline and military discipline,” Todwong said.
The visit also comes against the backdrop of a proposal by United Democratic Alliance to have their cadres trained at NALI as they make plans to build their institute.
“The sooner you select the beneficiaries, the better. The school is there already. We’ve been having some trainings there.” Hon Todwong said.
On his part, Maj Awich said that since Uganda was in the election season, the United Democratic Alliance cadres destined for Kyankwanzi would have the best experience when it comes to democracy, especially at the grassroots level.
“The beauty of having your students during this period is that they will be able to see other things. For example, we could have them attend and observe our national conference that will be part of the elections,” Major Awich said.
He noted that the military teaches the cadre about sacrifice and not about self-benefit and the other one is political which is the way of thinking, modifying and adjusting the thinking.
Major Pollar Awich also said the students would be able to attend district conferences and learn how party development, recruitment and continuity can be achieved.
The United Democratic Alliance Secretary General, Senator Omar Hassan, expressed his gratitude to the Ugandan team for agreeing to host and train the United Democratic Alliance A cadres at National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi and is looking at establishing a similar institute which can train both the high and low-level cadres.
