A group of National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters has petitioned the party Central Executive Committee (CEC) to clear the confusion about the party flag-bearer in the 2026 presidential elections.

The group that included ministers, presidential advisors, party district chairpersons and youth leaders from institutions of higher learning also asked the party top organ to state their position on what they termed as ‘cliques’ within the party that have started proclaiming their leaders as the Movement presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2026 general elections. They said this has resulted into a lot of confusion and divisions within the party.

The supporters, referring to themselves as patriots, activists and disciples of the Ugandan and African revolution, noted that they were greatly disturbed by the ongoing ‘disunity, sense of hopelessness and confusion within the NRM, stemming from the recent launch of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), formerly MK Movement.

State minister for gender, Peace Mutuuzo (third left), the head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajati Hadija Namyalo (3rd right) with other NRM carders during the symposium at Kati Kati restaurants in Kampala on Wednesday, February 21, 2024

PLU is headed by the First Son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba but during its launch, Captain Mike Mukula, a CEC member and several cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament subscribing to the NRM party attended. Gen. Kale Kayihura, the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), also attended.

However, during yesterday’s symposium at Kati Kati Restaurant along Lugogo Bypass, the petitioners observed that they were taking note of disturbing ‘infantile trends of naked populism and adventurism creeping into the ranks of the Movement’ with some people declaring themselves as Movement presidential candidates for the 2026 elections.

The petitioners who were led by David Mafabi, the senior presidential advisor on special duties, revealed that this was their third symposium dubbed ‘Kati-Kati Consensus Symposium’ under the code name ‘Mwangaza Group’

Judith Nabakooba, the lands minister, Peace Persis Mutuuzo, the state minister for gender, and Kampala resident city commissioner (RCC) Amina Lukanga graced the event.

Other notable people who attended include presidential advisor on Kampala affairs Sarah Kanyike, former Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly Margaret Zziwa, Hajati Hadija Namyalo, the head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) and  Ibrahim Kitatta, the NRM chairperson for Lwengo.  Several presidential assistants and advisors and NRM youth representatives from various universities, among others, also attended.

In his presentation, Mafabi said although he did not have issues with PLU launching their group and making proclamations, that trouble started when they started declaring candidature for the presidency, which has caused a lot of confusion and restlessness within the party.

“We want to alert CEC that as we go for structure elections, this confusion must be removed, the post of President is ring-fenced for Yoweri Museveni and the ongoing confusion and restlessness should be cleared fast,” Mafabi added.

Senior Presidential advisor on special duties, David Mafabi addressing NRM carders during a symposium at Kati Kati restaurants in Kampala on Wednesday, February 21, 2024

He noted that the main sentiment in the NRM was that President Museveni is their candidate in the 2026 general elections. 

“There is no doubt that Museveni will be on the ballot come 2026 but we are facing a confusion ever since PLU launched their group. If they are in the Movement, they must follow our procedure and stop creating this confusion,” he explained, adding that it was CEC that nominates a presidential candidate after outlining all the tasks.

“But not people on their own sitting somewhere in a clique declaring a presidential candidate. We are greatly disturbed by the fact that none of such pretenders have been endorsed by a single organ of the Movement,” the petitioners declared unanimously.

They further stated: “Disturbed by the disunity and sense of hopelessness fomented among the population by such recklessness, dismayed by the misdirection of the population away from the necessary focus on programmes of socio-economic transformation and wealth creation; keenly aware of our duty under the circumstances to Ugandan and African revolutions, we hereby petition CEC and unanimously declare, in the name of compatriots present in and without at Kati-Kati, that Museveni remains the undisputed leader, theoretician, strategist and tactician of our revolution.”

The petition further states that Museveni remains “in that pre-eminent position not because of subjective reasons, but due to objective reality and necessity defined by what needs to be done”.

“It should be noted though, that such replacement and change in the echelon of leadership, when it does occur, shall be guided by the law of the land, the constitution of the Movement and CEC, not by agitation nor premature and disruptive politicking,” the petitioners observed.

The petition states that in the meantime: “All those who subscribe to the Movement and are party to such disruptive politicking, should be immediately restrained from doing so by the organs of the institution, if they do not do so on their own. They say the Movement and its government must fight corruption and sloppiness in service delivery.”

Other issues raised included suggesting that challenges of employment can be overcome through commercial agriculture and full industrialisation and the integration of the East African and African markets and policies.

The group asked CEC to speed up electing of new party structures.

Nabakooba tried to calm the cadres who kept on referring to themselves as ‘Mwangaza Group’, arguing that she was convinced that a ‘son cannot fight his father’.

“It is the people surrounding both who are trying to misinterpret this information. The most important thing is to unite as one party,” she explained, adding that she supported the petition to CEC, which she referred to as a bold decision to seek guidance.

David Mafabi, Senior Presidential advisor

Nabakooba stated: “We shall ask CEC to sit and guide this team.” She asked the cadres not to fear any group but reach out to them so that they unite the party’s cause and forces.

“They could be moving in different directions but let us make sure we come together and mobilise for the same cause, which is President Museveni and move in the same direction,” she noted, arguing that it was clear that the party chairperson will appear on the ballot.

Hajati Namyalo remarked that the ordinary poor Ugandans would demand that President Museveni remains in power because they still expect a lot from him. 

“We already decided as ONC about President Museveni’s candidature. This petition is an additional endorsement that is within the laws to seal what has been in place,” she argued.

Zziwa, however, said: “let President Museveni handle his backyard and tell his son and followers to move slow.” 

“This is diverting us, many people are asking questions and wondering whether the NRM is running to MK(PLU) yet the President is still shy to talk about it,” she observed, asking the head of state to come out clear on the matter.

Stephen Twesigye, a youth leader, stated that he was disturbed by comments attributed to Gen. Kale Kayihura that PLU was playing the role of the party youth league.

CEC speaks out

When contacted, the NRM national vice-chairperson in charge of western region, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, noted that he had not seen the petition but that it was okay, if they are seeking for guidance. 

“We shall wait for their petition and come out with a position. Let them bring it and we shall look at their questions and clarify on them,” Baryomunsi advised.

‘We are one’

Peace Mutuuzo was tasked with delivering the petition to CEC, which is headed by President Yoweri Museveni, raising 11 points, which they unanimously declared at the symposium. 

The group asked Central Executive Committee (CEC) to rein in some of their members, including Captain Mike Mukula, who attended the launch of Patriotic League of Uganda. They stated that the new group within the party was derailing many supporters from focusing on programmes of socio-economic transformation and wealth creation.

Mutuuzo said there are well known procedures within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) structures to declare a candidate and people should not be confused by new formations.

“We are petitioning CEC to nominate a candidate, who is going to contest on the NRM ticket as a presidential candidate. We shall reach out even to the President who will table this matter to CEC for a decision to be reached faster before many people get confused and diverted, we don’t want a divided party, we are one NRM and we believe in its ideology,” she added.