KAMPALA, Uganda — Several incumbents lost their positions in recent central executive committee (CEC) elections for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, with some analysts and delegates citing a generational shift.
Many delegates who spoke after the election said the losses were due to a need for new leadership and fresh ideas, not ideological differences.
“For me, I just voted for new energy and perspectives for the party that can help shape how the country is moving forward in terms of development, especially with the many challenges we face such as unemployment,” said Betty Mujungu, the Fort Portal NRM vice-chairperson for the women’s league and deputy mayor of Fort Portal city.
Thomas Oboma Okot, the NRM chairman for the bodaboda riders’ association in Gulu city, said some leaders had become complacent and disconnected from the party’s base.
“This was a bottom-up approach,” Okot said. “If you stayed up only and you did not go to the grassroots, people have disciplined you by voting you out.” He added that voters were tired of leaders who dodged phone calls and failed to address their issues.
Political analyst Crispin Kaheru described the situation as a generational conflict. “The young are knocking and they are not waiting for the door to open,” he said. “But the old guard is not letting go quietly.” Kaheru warned that this tension must be resolved to prevent internal fractures within the party ahead of the 2026 elections.
Despite the wins for new members, some of the defeated incumbents alleged widespread irregularities.
Security Minister Maj. Gen. (rtd) Jim Muhwezi, who lost to Lt. (rtd) Moses Mushabe, accused his opponent of voter bribery, spreading falsehoods and using divisive rhetoric. “Voter bribery, ferrying and hiding delegates, falsehoods and systemic flaws in the vetting processes for candidates and delegates pose a threat to the very ethos of our National Resistance Army/Movement ideology,” Muhwezi said.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for ICT and national guidance, who lost to 37-year-old businessman Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, claimed that more than 200 “thugs” from Kampala were bused in to vote at multiple polling stations. “There is no election to talk about here, the results will be illegitimate,” he told President Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni, who is also the NRM national chairman, responded by saying the allegations could be investigated. “The CID [Criminal Investigations Directorate] will compare what was announced, the voter registers and the number of ballots cast. Everything has been recorded,” he said.
Former First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, who lost to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, alleged that “unprecedented” bribery, intimidation and abuse of office occurred during the elections. “We have witnessed the distribution of iPads, mobile phones and large sums of money — not small tokens of sh20,000, but millions — used to sway delegates,” she said.
Capt. Mike Mukula, who withdrew from his race for vice-chairperson, also claimed the campaign was “grossly compromised” by corruption and bribery. He called on the party leadership to implement reforms to safeguard its internal democracy.
