Kiyonga no-show at joint NRM primaries campaign

KASESE - Ex-defence minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga has reportedly rejected an NRM management directive for joint campaigns during the party primaries.

Kiyonga, also the current Makerere University chancellor, has preferred a personal or house-to-house campaign. He is vying with information state minister Godfrey Kabbyanga for the Bukonzo West County MP party flag.

The joint campaigns in the area kicked off on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at Kithoma and Isango trading centres in Isango sub-county of Kasese district, with Kiyonga missing without any official communication and subsequently missing other rallies.

Uphill task

For the last 10 years, the Bukonzo West County parliamentary seat has been dominated by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), with Atkins Katusabe remaining the area's legislator, having defeated Kiyonga, who held the NRM party flag in both 2016 and 2021 general election.

Crispus Kiyonga

Kabbyanga speaks out

However, Kabbyanga attributed the failure of NRM to win the previous general elections to a lack of a vibrant candidate, false confidence and the failure to introduce livelihood-enhancing initiatives.

"This place has about 70,000 loyal supporters of the NRM party, yet we continue to lose to FDC. I cannot allow myself to bear the shame anymore," Kabbyanga said.

Those fighting for the NRM flag for the Bukonzo West County MP seat are Kiyonga, Kabbyanga, Milton Wangalima.