Minister Kabanda’s sole candidature splits NRM

In the chaotic, vibrant heart of Kampala, where politics is less a game and more a full-contact sport, the race for the Central MP seat is heating up. The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is feeling the heat as top leaders fight the sole candidate talk fronted by the Kampala minister.

Kampala minister Minsa Kabanda, recently anointed as the party’s sole candidate, is basking in the glow of endorsement — but not everyone is clapping.

Cedric Babu, the Young Turk with political pedigree, and Susan Kushaba, a fiery former Owino market leader with a score to settle, are sharpening their knives, ready to challenge Kabanda’s coronation.

Meanwhile, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, has thrown its hat in the ring with Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP secretary general, setting the stage for a showdown that promises more drama.

Old wounds, personal vendettas and the ever-present shadow of President Yoweri Museveni’s influence loom large, making this race less about policies and more about personalities, power and who can outmanoeuvre whom.

Sole candidate

As the ruling NRM party gears up for its July primaries to select flagbearers, leaders in Kampala Central division have thrown their weight behind Kabanda as the sole candidate for the parliamentary seat.

The decision, sealed in the presence of NRM’s vice national chairperson, Hajji Moses Kigongo, at a gathering in Maya, Wakiso district, was attended by none other than Salim Uhuru, the NRM party chairperson for Kampala Central.

Uhuru, who also serves as the area’s mayor, made it clear to The Weekend Vision that his role as party chairperson comes with the responsibility of backing candidates who can deliver victory in next year’s general election.

“I made the same promise to the President, and the mission is on track,” Uhuru said.

“We recently met at Hajji Kigongo’s residence, where Minister Kabanda was endorsed as the sole candidate for the parliamentary seat. The party leadership conducted research across all 20 parishes in Kampala Central and the findings showed that Cedric Babu, our former flagbearer, is better suited for City Hall as a councillor, while Kabanda is the right fit for Parliament. That, among other factors, informed our decision to endorse her.”

But Uhuru was quick to add that the door isn’t entirely shut.

Party members, he added, are free to throw their hats in the ring and challenge Kabanda — or any other position — in the upcoming primaries.

“Anyone who wishes to contest is free to express interest in these positions. That’s the beauty of democracy in the NRM party,” he quipped, taking a subtle jab at the Opposition.

“Unlike NUP, where one person calls the shots on who gets the ticket, we believe in giving everyone a fair shot,” Uhuru added.

Clash of the titans

As Salim Uhuru champions Kabanda’s sole candidacy for the Kampala Central MP seat, Babu, a rising star within the NRM, has thrown his hat into the ring for the party chairmanship in the same division. But this isn’t just a friendly contest — it’s a brewing storm.

Babu’s ambitions have already drawn sharp criticism from Uhuru, who has dismissed him as “incompetent” to lead the party.

Kampala Central mayor Salim Uhuru.

Political observers are sounding the alarm, warning that this clash could escalate tensions within the ruling party, especially given the history of violence and chaos during NRM primaries.

The NRM is now a battleground between two factions: the old guard, represented by Uhuru and Kabanda, and the young Turks, led by Babu and backed by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a political pressure group that enjoys the back-up of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Last year, PLU shifted its strategy, advising its members to rejoin the NRM and contest for key positions.

Babu, who heads PLU’s Kampala Metropolitan operations, is at the forefront of this push, while Susan Kushaba, a fiery former Owino Market leader and PLU member, has also joined the fray, declaring her intention to run for the Kampala Central MP seat on the NRM ticket.

Kushaba’s entry into the race has added another layer of drama. She and Kabanda are far from allies, with a history of public spats and accusations.

A source revealed that Kushaba’s candidacy is backed by a high-ranking Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) general, who allegedly deployed her to protect certain economic interests.

“Find out which army general sent her to manage Owino Market three years ago — he’s the one behind her campaign,” the source hinted.

Kushaba, however, frames her bid as a fight for the voiceless.

“If we had an NRM MP, traders and residents wouldn’t need to Petition Parliament — we would take our grievances directly to them,” she told The Weekend Vision.

Kushaba also took a swipe at Kabanda, questioning her track record as Kampala minister.

“At the right time, we’ll face off. She has a lot of questions to answer,” she declared, adding that she’s ready to take on both Kabanda and Babu — if the primaries are free and fair.

But Uhuru isn’t impressed.

“I can’t discuss her because she is not part of our party structures,” he retorted, dismissing Kushaba’s candidacy.

Meanwhile, analysts note that the rivalry between Kabanda and Kushaba is deeply personal, rooted in a 2022 incident where Kushaba was evicted from Owino Market, arrested, and banned from returning.

Former Owino market leader Susan Kushaba is ready to challenge Kabanda’s coronation.

She has since accused Kabanda and other senior NRM members of orchestrating her downfall, and for two years, she’s been on a public crusade against her rival.

Babu, for his part, remains undeterred.

The son of veteran politician Francis Babu, confirmed his intention to contest both the parliamentary seat and the party chairmanship next year.

When asked about Uhuru’s criticism, Babu fired back: “Ask Uhuru this — does he think he can be chairman of Kampala Central, chairman of the district, sit on the CEC, and still be mayor? Can one man do all three jobs?”

As the PLU-backed candidates gear up for the primaries, the NRM finds itself at a crossroads.

With old wounds still fresh and new rivalries emerging, the party’s internal cohesion is being tested. And while the Opposition watches from the sidelines, the real battle is within the NRM itself — a fight for control, influence and survival in the high-stakes world of Kampala politics.

Issues at hand

Kampala Central Division is a political enigma. Despite being home to some of the city’s most densely populated slums and diverse parishes such as Bukesa, Kamwokya, Kisenyi and Nakasero, it has remained an NRM stronghold for nearly four decades.

The division’s mayor, Uhuru, doubles as the NRM party chairperson, and the local council is dominated by NRM members.

Yet, unlike other constituencies where an NRM ticket almost guarantees victory, Kampala Central is a different beast. Its geopolitics are complex, with voters often prioritising individual capability over party loyalty.

“When I am on the ground interacting with locals, I don’t just meet NRM supporters — I meet everyone,” Kabanda said.

“I once won a councillorship with 80% of the vote, and those votes came from both NRM and opposition supporters. People here vote for what you can deliver, not just your party colours,” she added.

The NRM’s enduring popularity in Kampala Central, leaders said, can be attributed to a combination of strategic mobilisation and the area’s unique voter behaviour.

Uhuru explained that the party has a robust structure, with 30-member teams at every level — from villages to the distric t— tasked with door-to-door mobilisation.

“We empower these teams to connect with voters directly,” he said.

On his part, political analyst, Charles Rwomushana, said: “Kampala Central has a large low-income population, making it easier for the NRM to maintain support with minimal social services and financial incentives.”

“The party also has a strong network in the division, which helps leaders retain their seats. But, perhaps most importantly, voters here prioritise personalities over parties.

That’s why they elected Erias Lukwago as Lord Mayor and Uhuru as division mayor — despite their political differences,” he added.