Ex-Hoima speaker, MP sail through in NRM polls

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HOIMA

Former Hoima district speaker, Nathian Kitwe Isingoma, and former Hoima Municipality legislator, Dr Lawrance Bategeka, have sailed through in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party grassroots elections.

Isingoma has been voted as the Hoima West Division National Resistance Movement (NRM) party chairperson, while Bategeka has been voted as the chairperson for elderly people.

They were elected during the NRM structure polls for Hoima city's west division at the division headquarters in Kibingo cell, presided over by party registrar Godfrey Zahura Mugeny on Monday, May 19, 2025.

The election started with the nomination of the candidates, and the voting started at 11:00 am with a big turnout and heavy security deployment.

Zahura declared Isingoma as the Hoima West division chairperson after he was unopposed.

Sunday Gearfrey Omubyasi from Kyesiga ward and a member of Kangabaije pressure group (right) sharing with his supporters before election. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

Kitwe is deputised by Beatrice Friday from Kyesiga ward, who won the elections with 135 votes, beating Lenard Kusemerwa, who got 50 votes. Byamaka Jemes, who got 16 votes and Esau Tagababyona, who gathered 14 votes.

Joseph Ssekinga from Kasingo ward was voted as general secretary with 83 votes against Deus Ssetongo, who got 48 votes, Mugabi, who got 28 votes and Lenox Barongo, who got 19 votes.

Sunday Gearfrey Omubyasi from Kyesiga ward and a member of Kangabaije pressure group was voted as publicity secretary with 122 votes, beating Shem Baguma, who gathered 105 votes.

While Hajji Arama mugisa from Kihomboza ward is secretary for finance after he emerged unopposed. 

Bategeka, the chairperson for elderly persons who was unopposed, is deputised by Faith Kirikarama, who won with 20 votes, beating Kugonza Unice, who got 13 votes and and Isingoma Zedekiya, who was given four votes.

Hellen Azikya was voted as chairperson for the women's league with 27 votes against Kugonza Irene, who got 17 votes.

Jyme Ahura was voted as Youth chairperson with 32 votes against Busobozi Evarist, who got 14 votes.

Zahura said that the election was peaceful, free and fair and commended the NRM members who turned up for the election.

Speaking to New Vision Online after the election, Bategeka commended the elders for trusting him and promised to advocate for the issue affecting elderly people in the city.

He noted that he will advocate for the elders to get Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) and also to mobilise them to engage in income-generating programmes.