First Lady urges former NRM aspirants and flagbearers to unite for poll victory

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The First Lady, Mrs Janet Museveni, has called upon all former aspirants in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries to hold hands with NRM flagbearers to move together as a united front with collective effort in the forthcoming general elections of January 2026.

Mrs Museveni, who is the Ntungamo District NRM Chairperson, made the call on Wednesday at her country home in Irenga, Ntungamo district, while hosting over 85 politicians.

They included: National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearers vying for Member of Parliament, LC-V, Mayoral, as well as District and Municipal Councillor positions in Ntungamo.

They were joined by 27 former aspirants for the same offices in the hotly contested Party primaries.

In her address, Maama Janet, who is also the minister of Education and Sports, thanked the leaders for their loyalty and discipline. She recognised the former aspirants who resisted the temptation of running as independents. She affirmed that such discipline is a sign that the Party is being prioritised over personal ambition. She noted that such maturity is needed to strengthen both the NRM and national leadership generally.

“The Party is bigger than any individual. Those who choose not to contest as independents or step down have preferred Party unity over internal conflict and imperfections, demonstrating true leadership and love for the NRM and the people,” Janet Museveni said.

 A release from her office states that she singled out Moses Kahima in 2021 failed to get the NRM Flag for Ruhaama East constituency after losing to Benjamin Kamukama Katangura. In a turn of fortunes, Kahima is now the 2026 NRM Party flagbearer after defeating  Katangura, who has since respected the vote.

She encouraged the leaders who lost in the primaries to remain strong cadres for the Party by continuing to mobilise voter support for the Flagbearers. Recognised also were the several aspirants for the District Woman MP, including the incumbent Joselyn Kamateneti, who has since declared support for Ms Viola Namanya, the Party flagbearer.

Calling for urging unity ahead of the forthcoming general elections, Mrs Museveni added, “Uganda has neither started today nor will it come to an end tomorrow. Therefore, the future is still there and will present opportunities to contest again. Even those who do not win an election can still prosper. Success does not start or end at the ballot.”

The First Lady cited the case of Mr Johnson Basangwa, a former Mayoral contestant in Kamuli Municipality,  a model farmer whom  President  Yoweri  Museveni often uses to illustrate successful ventures.

After losing polls at the 2006 primaries, Basangawa turned to commercial poultry farming, earning 6.5 billion shillings a year and employing 300 people. Mrs Museveni advised that opportunities do not end with elective politics, but many others exist beyond political positions.

Furthermore, drawing from scripture, Mrs Museveni encouraged aspirants for elective offices to always place their trust in God, stating that He knows each one of us before we are even conceived in our mothers’ wombs – Jeremiah 1:5. “Your journey is not accidental. Your calling was known before you were born. Even when you feel worn out, God has not abandoned you,” she referenced.

She also cited the Biblical account of Abraham and his nephew Lot in the Book of Genesis Chapter 13), and counselled that it is important that Party elders and those leaders do all that it takes to avoid strife but promote peace. She illustrated that for the sake of peace between Abraham and Lot, the former chose to let the latter choose where to dwell with his livestock. Yet, God also blessed Abraham, wherever he chose to go. 

Mrs Museveni urged leaders to choose peace over strife, and unity over division. “This message about the account of Abraham and his nephew Lot is especially to give hope to those who stepped down gracefully and said, ‘The party is bigger than me.’ God sees that as a sacrifice – and rewards it in His own time,” she said.

Emily Atuhaire, the Woman Councillor for Nyabihoko sub-county as well as Rwashamaire Town Council, who is the Chairperson of the 63 Ntungamo NRM District Councillor Flagbearer, described their forum as a strong mobilisation platform that has anchored the NRM from the grassroots.

She reaffirmed their readiness to counter what she termed as confusion from independents and pressure groups, noting that the NRM grassroots structures remain firm and organised ahead of 2026.

“This campaign belongs to everyone. The base is strong, the structures exist everywhere, and we have already started to mobilise votes for all the flag bearers right from LC1 to the Presidency,” Emily said.

Atuhaire highlighted the councillors’ door-to-door mobilisation efforts, collaboration with elders, women and youth leaders, and disciplined handling of campaign materials, which, she said, will ensure 99 percent support for NRM within the district. “As District councillors, we may be few, but we carry the voices of many. Our role has been to guard the party flag and ensure victory from village to village,” Emily added.

The former Aspirants, who included the six who contested for the District Woman MP in the NRM Primaries, pledged to unite and mobilise their supporters to support the NRM flag bearers.

They also pledged to mobilise the people of influence and professionals who hail from Ntungamo District, plus the civil society, who have a large following that they command, to also join the mobilisation and ensure a resounding 100 per cent vote for President Museveni - NRM’s Presidential Flag Bearer and all other NRM Flag bearers at all levels in Ntungamo District.

Dignitaries at the meeting included: Ntungamo District NRM Executive Committee members, including the Vice Chairperson, Yona Musinguzi.