Following Uganda’s Electoral Commission release of the 2026 general elections roadmap, the Kira municipality National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag-bearers that lost in the 2021 general elections have asked the area resident district commissioners to arrange for them to meet President Yoweri Museveni over their fate.

They argued that the NRM secretariat in Kira is not functioning, adding that the lower bases have been running without offices due to poor facilitation. As a result, they said, the Kasokoso NRM office was closed due to failure to pay rent arrears.

Kira municipality had 204 NRM flag-bearers at all levels of leadership, but only 32 won in various capacities.

Some of the NRM flag bearers who lost in 2021 elections perusing through a working document that they wanted sent to President Museveni (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“We have the biggest opposition in Kira municipality. It is where former Forum for Democratic Change party president Kiiza Besigye and National Unity Platform (NUP) party president, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine pass every day and we are not comfortable with the Kira Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda,” Emmanuel Rangila, the chairperson Kira municipality NRM flag-bearers, said.

While addressing over 200 former NRM flag-bearers at the Kira Municipal Hall, Rangila said that the only way to re-organise NRM in Kira is to visit the party chairman at State House Entebbe for a wider discussion on early mobilisation to lift the deteriorating image of the party in the central region of Uganda.

“The last elections exposed us to too much vandalism that eroded our financial bases. Hooliganism from National Unity Platform (NUP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) that got our campaign materials destroyed after heavy financial investments made us lose morale amongst our members, yet we must prepare for 2026,” he said.

When Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine was arrested in Luuka district in November 2020, riotous supporters sabotaged us in Kira municipality, fought us and plucked off our campaign posters from Seeta to Kijabijjo while instructing the electorates to vote the opposition and abandon NRM, Rangila added.

He said this is the basis over which the group demanded to meet President Museveni through the RDCs.

“If things continue moving the way they are moving, the opposition is likely to overwhelm us considering how the 2021 wave consumed the majority of our colleagues in Kira,” Rangila reasoned.

Kira municipality consists of 54 zones, 6 parishes, 3 divisions with councilors who represent the district, municipal and the division levels totaling 204 councillors. It has about 500,000 voters.

RDC Kira municipality Naboth Kagolo, Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda and the Wakiso district RDC Justine Mbabazi listening to the grievances of NRM losers in Kira (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“Due to lack of resources, we lost most of the seats and now we need to mobilise as soon as possible so that we do not lose next time. We have now managed to create the Praise Kira Farmers Association to enable us to raise funds for next elections, Rangila said.

Kira municipality RDC Naboth Kagolo revealed that the hostility was too much during election period saying that they need to engage the party secretariat to start filling the gaps of NRM election personnel at sub-county, parish and village levels.

“Before we go to meet President Museveni, we need to make sure that all the elective positions are filled such that we table only what we cannot resolve ourselves,” he advised.

The key to thriving in this political battleground lies in early and comprehensive preparation. Failing to take timely action could render NRM vulnerable and ultimately left behind in the race for success, he warned.

The Dean of Resident City Commissioners (RCC) and RDC Wakiso District Justine Mbabazi asked NRM contestants to recruit all people in their savings and credit organisations to lift them out of poverty.

“Understanding the local concerns and aspirations of citizens can forge a meaningful bond between the party and its supporters and it should be done by involving them in the money economy,” Mbabazi said.

Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala Capital City and the Metropolitan Affairs challenged NRM local leaders and aspirants to engage in meaningful economic activities to fund their own campaigns.

“If you meet President Museveni without an idea of starting your own investments in groups, he shall not embrace it because he hates dealing with individuals who are only interested in swindling money meant for investment,” Kabanda noted.

She promised to lobby State House to construct a skilling centre in Kira Municipality to help the youth get training in vocational studies and practical work.