Kikuube district by-election: NRM to conduct primaries on Thursday

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The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party will on Thursday this week conduct its primary elections in which it will choose its flag-bearer in the upcoming Kikuube district chairperson by-election.

According to the Kikuube district NRM principal election officer, Paschal Musuuga, everything has been finalised to conduct the primaries to choose a flag-bearer who will represent the party in the by-election set for June 18.

The development follows the death of the incumbent district chairperson, Peter Banura, in a car crash on April 4, 2026. Banura, the son of Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Matayo Kyaligonza was hit by a fast-moving taxi in Butyamba-Kamusunsi village, Kiziranfumbi town council, on the Hoima-Fort Portal highway.

Musuga said five candidates, who include Philip Burnett Mbabazi, a brother of the late Banura, had expressed interest in contesting in the NRM primaries. Others are: Paddy Kisembo, businessman Valentine Rubasharaza, former Kikuube district speaker Chris Nkalu and Dickson Tusabe.

However, Musuga said Nkalu has since withdrawn his candidature for unknown reasons, leaving four candidates in the race.

He noted that the candidates were given nine days to campaign, starting on May 9 till May 19, 2026. Musuga said the campaigns have been peaceful, adding that the candidates conducted individual campaigns after they rejected the joint campaigns.

He said the district NRM election officers will be backed by the NRM electoral commission team led by the party's Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi.

Musuga warned the candidates and the supporters against engaging in election violence to ensure that they have a free and peaceful election.

Robert Mwebesa, the Kikuube district NRM registrar, called on the voters to embrace the elections and vote for the flagbearer who will compete with other candidates from other parties. The district has five sub-counties and two town councils.

Candidates speak out

Tusabe and Rubasharaza said the nine days they were given to campaign could not allow them to traverse all the villages.

Nkalu said he withdrew his candidature because he anticipated that the election would not be free and fair.