Echodu being handed a expression of interests form
David Calvin Echodu, a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), yesterday officially threw his hat into the ring to contest for the influential position of NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda on the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), setting the stage for a high-stakes challenge against the long-serving incumbent, Capt. Mike Mukula.
Speaking to the press shortly after picking nomination forms from the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, Echodu said his decision is rooted in a firm desire to inject new energy into the party’s leadership and bridge the growing gap between the top leadership and ordinary party members at the grassroots.
“I’m very excited to stand for that position to bring new energy to the party,” Echodu stated confidently.
“That means supporting the chairman and our president in his next agenda and helping mobilize new energy to strengthen the party.”
Echodu, who has built a name for himself as a youthful strategist and grassroots mobilizer, described the current state of NRM’s leadership in the eastern region as one that has remained strong in numbers but weak in effective representation at the party’s top decision-making table.
“NRM is strong in Eastern Uganda, but we lack leadership, especially in the position of the Vice Chairperson of the party,” he said.
“What we want to do now is to bridge that gap between the Central Executive Committee and the grassroots.”
The position of Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda on the NRM CEC is currently held by Capt. Mike Mukula, a veteran politician and former minister who has served in the role for over 10 years.
While Mukula has been credited for helping consolidate NRM’s political dominance in the Teso sub-region and beyond, some emerging voices within the party, especially among the youth, believe it is time for renewal.
Echodu’s message resonated with a vision for transformation and inclusivity, particularly emphasizing a leadership style that listens to, works with, and is accountable to ordinary citizens.
“I want to provide a bridge between the grassroots and CEC,” he said. “I believe I can bridge that gap by providing leadership that will reconnect the NRM top leadership with the grassroots in Eastern Uganda.”
According to Echodu, the party must evolve with changing times.
He expressed concern that while the NRM has continued to win elections, the party’s structures in some areas have grown disconnected from the people they are meant to serve.
“People are asking for presence. They want to feel that the party listens and responds to their needs, not just during elections, but consistently throughout every season,” Echodu explained.
Sources close to Echodu’s campaign team hinted at a growing support base among youthful leaders, women groups, and some historical NRM cadres who believe the time is ripe to inject fresh leadership into CEC to help revamp the party’s ideological drive and operational efficiency in the region.
“Echodu speaks to a generation that is hungry for responsiveness and transparency,” said one supporter who accompanied him to the party offices. “He is not coming to fight the past, but to build a bridge into the future.”
Despite the boldness of his challenge, Echodu was measured in tone, acknowledging the service of Capt. Mike Mukula but stressing that his campaign will focus on ideas, unity, and grassroots empowerment rather than personal attacks.
“I respect all those who have served the party before, including our current vice chairperson,” he noted. “But our focus now is not about personalities. It’s about building systems, bringing fresh thinking, and helping the party prepare for the next generation.”
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What he says is true, the NRM members need to be part and parcel of the party not just spectators that watch what happens without being involved, not a situation where a leader assumes the position of choosing leaders for other positions for the people eg women members of Parliament or even the male members of Parliament including councillors creating confusion whereby opposition ends up taking all the political positions mostly in Soroti City for these to stop we need a leader who loves the party and is all inclusive and not segregative, we feel the new energy approach is the way to go.