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KAMPALA - The chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has made new appointments as his new civic organization seeks to appeal to a wider cross-section of the population.

New appointees include the state minister for ICT, Godfrey Kabbyanga, two members of Parliament, and three district chairpersons.

The MPs are Martin Mapenduzi (Bardege-layibi Division) and Jackson Atima (Arua Central Division), while the district chairpersons are Didas Tabaro (Mbarara), Sam Kajojo (Kanungu), and Nelson Nshangabasheija (Kabale).

Kabbyanga was appointed as Rwenzori PLU coordinator while Mapenduzi and Atima will oversee Acholi and Greater Arua as coordinators, respectively.

Nshangabasheija and the Tooro Kingdom foreign affairs minister, Henry Basaliza, were named as coordinators for Kigezi and Tooro sub-regions, respectively, while Tabaro and Kajojo were appointed as deputy coordinators for Ankole and Kigezi sub-regions, respectively.

Kabbyanga and Mapinduzi plus some district bosses on the new team were among VIPs at  the recent PLU grand launch in Kampala.

The PLU deputy spokesperson, Daudi Kabanda, who is also Kasambya County MP on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, released the list on Friday, February 16, on X, formerly Twitter.

Polly Karamuzi and Joyce Walemba were appointed as spokesperson for Ankole and Rwenzori Women representative, respectively.

Who is who in PLU

The new appointees now join the PLU top brass who include events promoter Balaam Barugahara (vice chairman, western), Kampala businessman Frank Gashumba (vice chairman, central), Kitgum Woman NRM MP, Lillian Aber (vice chairperson, northern), and veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda (spokesperson).

Other leaders of PLU include President Yoweri Museveni’s brother, Michael Nuwagira aka Toyota, and Igara East NRM MP Micheal Mawanda, who are both members of the organization’s central committee. 

Seasoned security and diplomacy expert Michael Katungi is the PLU commissioner for external relations, while state minister for education and sports and Ngariam County MP Peter Ogwang, and the state minister for microfinance, Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, are the coordinator for Teso and Greater Masaka sub-regions.

Tingey County NRM MP Fadil Twalla and President Museveni’s brother, Shadrack Nzeire, are the coordinators for Sebei and Ankole sub-regions, while Rakai Resident District Commissioner Sarah Kiyimba, and entrepreneur Judith Mukidi, are Women representatives of Greater Masaka and Tooro, respectively. 

Former presidential press secretary Joseph Tamale Mirundi is serving as the deputy spokesperson for Buganda sub-region.

Gen. Kainerugaba  (MK) who is also the senior presidential advisor on special operations said after the launch of PLU on February 7, 2024, that Uganda would be great and thanked “millions” of their supporters and well-wishers.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, the First Son also said in Kiswahili that the journey had just started.

The PLU, which is formerly the MK Movement, was launched as a viable vehicle to mobilise Ugandans towards the goal of national unity, peace, and stability.

The MK Movement started in April 2022 as “a spontaneous and diverse group of Ugandans that rallied around Gen. Muhoozi to appreciate his military service and the service of his army comrades to the Republic of Uganda”.

“Over the past 17 months, the MK Movement has remained engaged and active in mobilising Ugandans towards the goal of national unity, peace, and stability,” Mawanda said while unveiling their new name and identity.