NRM CEC battle: Obua seeks to replace Oulanyah

As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) gears toward preparation for its structures right from the village to the national level, key political heavyweights have shown interest to take up positions at the party’s top organ, the Central Executive Committee (CEC).

The race for positions within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) top organ, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) has gained momentum, with the Government Chief Whip, Hamson Denis Obua, seeking to replace former Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah.

The CEC position, vice chairperson for northern region, was declared vacant in 2022 following Oulanyah’s death. From that time, northern Uganda has remained unrepresented in CEC.

Key among the contenders who want to fill Oulanyah’s shoes are Obua, who is also the Ajuri county legislator, former minister of housing, Sam Engola, former speaker of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Dan Fed Kidega and Kole district MP Judith Alyek.

Others include Adjumani district chairperson Ben Anyama and Bobson Ojede Jigila, the former contestant for Moroto county MP in Alebtong district.

In another development, former president of the Uganda Medical Association, Dr Samuel Odongo Oledo, said he will contest for the position of national vice-chairperson, currently occupied by Moses Kigongo.

Oledo is also eyeing the Moroto county MP seat.

“Yes, I am coming for Moroto, but after winning the position of the first national vice-chairperson of NRM, a position currently occupied by our elder Kigongo,” he said.

Obua’s take

Obua said he has decided to fill Oulanyah’s shoes in order to “consolidate” NRM’s support in the northern region.

“Fellow Ugandans, especially the leaders and members of NRM. I greet and salute you all. I am seeking your support and mandate to serve as the NRM vice-chairperson in northern Uganda.

Speaker Anita Among lays a wreath on Jacob Oulanyah’s grave flanked by Obua (blue blazer) in August last year at Ayomlony village, Lalogi sub-county, Omoro district. File Photo

This move is seen as a strategic bid to consolidate support in the region,” he said.

For Alyek, who is also the chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group, the CEC vice-chairperson position for northern Uganda is not about who speaks good English.

She said it is about commitment, loyalty and passion to serve the party and the people of northern Uganda.

Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) enjoys reasonable support in the Lango subregion while NRM takes on Acholi and West Nile. The three sub-regions elect one representative to the CEC, a top decision-making organ of NRM.

Commenting about the race, Engola, who was ousted by Oulanyah from the same position, said he will beat Obua hands down.

He added: “I am the one who introduced and marketed NRM in Lango, Acholi and West Nile sub-regions when it was unpopular. When I started talking about NRM, nobody wanted to hear and it was a tough time for the party, but I was determined to bring change.”

The state minister for environment, Beatrice Anywar, is also in the race for the CEC position for northern Uganda.

Environment state minister Beatrice Anywar is also interested in the northern Uganda CEC position.

For a couple of months, a number of NRM cadres, including the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, have openly expressed interest in the NRM CEC positions.

Among seeks to unseat incumbent Rebecca Kadaga for the NRM national vice-chairperson — female position.

Kadaga is also the first Deputy Prime Minister and minister for East Africa Community Affairs.

The state minister for defence, Jacob Oboth-Oboth has also declared intention to oust former minister, Mike Mukula, from the CEC position of vice-chairperson eastern Uganda.

For the CEC position of vice-chairperson western Uganda, Workers MP, Arinaitwe Rwakajara, said he will oust information minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi.

However, as the jostle for CEC positions intensifies, the NRM spokesperson, Emmanuel Dombo, said it is premature for members to declare interest before the party roadmap is released.

“It is premature to start expressing interest for the CEC positions without a roadmap.

Once CEC issues the roadmap, we shall begin from the villages to the districts and it is the district delegates, who go to the nationals, where the CEC representatives will be elected,” Dombo said.

Recently, the NRM secretary general, Richard Todwong, said CEC members had been summoned in mid-February, following the launch of the second phase of the NRM party register.

The members will come up with guidelines for the internal structure elections.

“These guidelines will guide us on how to conduct the party primaries, structural elections and how the party will manage the exercise of lining up behind the candidates,” Todwong said.

NRM party primaries are expected to be conducted in July.

Dombo revealed that all the people that are expressing their interest to run as CEC members are either doing it on social media or certain events.

“There has been no formal expression of interest. Obua announced it on social media. At one time I also heard aka Mama Mabira (Anywar) also announcing that she is contesting as a CEC member,” he said.

“The position of the driver of the bus has been secured, but other positions will be guided on by the CEC or National Executive Council (NEC). If CEC and NEC fail, the delegates’ conference will determine their fate,” Dombo said.