Aspiring National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) member for Eastern Uganda, David Calvin Echodu, has met with Rtd. Gen. Salim Saleh, a senior Presidential advisor on defense and veteran affairs and brother to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in what observers are calling a key political engagement ahead of the highly anticipated CEC polls.
Echodu, who has been actively traversing the region to consolidate support for his bid to become NRM’s Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, described the meeting held at Gen. Saleh’s residence in Gulu on Saturday afternoon as “fruitful and deeply encouraging.”
“This afternoon, I paid a courtesy visit to Rtd. Gen. Salim Saleh at his home in Gulu,” Echodu posted on social media shortly after the engagement.
“I’m grateful for the wisdom and guidance he shared during our deliberations. I’m fortified to press on with the mission of advancing our Chairman H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s vision of transforming our country to middle income status.”
Sources close to the meeting said the discussion focused on strengthening the party’s grassroots structures, enhancing ideological clarity among NRM cadres, and mobilizing support for President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Echodu’s meeting with Gen. Saleh comes at a strategic time as the NRM prepares for internal elections that will shape its top leadership and influence its direction in the next political cycle.
The CEC, as the ruling party’s supreme decision-making body, plays a crucial role in setting party policy, vetting candidates, and supporting the President’s strategic vision.
Ecodu, a former civil society leader turned political mobilizer, is positioning himself as a youthful, visionary candidate capable of bridging generational divides within the NRM and reenergizing the party’s base in Eastern Uganda.
His campaign has focused on unity, grassroots empowerment, and economic transformation, echoing the NRM’s broader national agenda.
He has also emphasized loyalty to President Museveni, whom he credits with laying the foundation for Uganda’s stability and development.
“Let’s continue mobilizing support for all @NRMOnline flag bearers and H.E @KagutaMuseveni ahead of the coming elections,” Echodu urged supporters, signaling a broader call to action for party cohesion.
Meeting Gen. Salim Saleh is viewed by political analysts in Teso as a significant milestone in Ecodu’s campaign, as the retired general remains a highly influential figure within the ruling party’s political and economic frameworks, particularly through his work with Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).
Saleh has been instrumental in mentoring young leaders and advising on socio-economic interventions in rural Uganda.
His support, tacit or direct, is often considered a strong boost for those seeking political elevation within the NRM.
Though no official endorsement was announced, the meeting itself is seen as a powerful indication of Echodu’s growing political traction.
About Author
