KAMPALA, Uganda — The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is gripped by an intense internal contest for positions on its Central Executive Committee (CEC), a race that analysts say extends beyond mere intraparty ambition to reveal a complex web of political calculations and underlying anxieties about succession and strategic positioning within Uganda’s political landscape.
Veteran politicians and analysts describe the stiff competition for seats on the NRM’s top organ as indicative of its pivotal role. The CEC is not just a party structure; it functions as the de facto nucleus of political decision-making in Uganda. It advises the party chairperson, President Yoweri Museveni, and often acts as the final arbiter on critical matters ranging from parliamentary candidature to cabinet appointments.
“To be on CEC is to have a direct hand in shaping Uganda’s political architecture, and the stiff competition is a reflection of both the enduring centrality of the NRM in the country’s political life and the growing undercurrents of transition politics,” said Crispin Kaheru, a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission. “The scramble is not just for power within the party; it is for positioning within the broader national context. The 2025 CEC race, therefore, is as much about today’s influence as it is about tomorrow’s leadership.”
Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM spokesperson, underscored the CEC’s critical function, explaining that the organ has delegated authority to manage party affairs. “CEC approves all major appointments by the party, designates all positions in the committees of parliament and the Parliamentary Commission and it is in a vintage position in case one was to lobby for anything or for anyone,” he said.
Dombo suggested the high level of competition this election cycle might stem from the fact that some positions have not seen an election in over a decade. “The new entrants feel the other leaders have stayed for enough time and should give way for others, and yet the old ones feel they now have the requisite experience to stay put,” said Dombo, who served as Bunyole East MP for 20 years. He further argued that the intense competition reflects the increasing importance of political parties in shaping state affairs.
300 Aspirants for 17 Elective Posts
Following the close of nominations for CEC positions last Friday, Dr. Tanga Odoi, the NRM’s electoral commission chairperson, announced that 300 members expressed interest in various roles within the party’s top organ. These 300 hopefuls will contest for 17 elective positions out of the 28 total CEC positions.
The elective CEC positions include: party chairperson, two national vice-chairpersons (one female, one male), six regional vice-chairpersons and eight league chairpersons. Non-elective positions comprise the secretary general, deputy secretary general, national treasurer, the chairperson of the party’s parliamentary caucus, and the chairpersons of the special league committees and commissions.
“For many political heavyweights, therefore, gaining a seat at that table is about wielding influence that extends far beyond party lines,” Kaheru noted.
Transition Politics and Strategic Positioning
Kaheru argued that securing a CEC seat represents an investment in political capital, relevance and protection, with access often determining survival for some individuals.
“While President Museveni remains firmly in control, there is an unspoken but increasingly palpable conversation about succession. This conversation could also be informing political strategy. Aligning with or positioning within CEC becomes a strategic hedge against the uncertainties of transition,” Kaheru added.
Analysts suggest that prominent figures such as Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, supported by former power brokers like former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and former Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, are not merely seeking to win seats; they are strategically laying markers for future influence.
Among, who is seeking re-election as Bukedea Woman MP, is also vying for the CEC position of second national vice-chairperson (female), currently held by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga, who seeks to retain it.
“My standing is to bring value to CEC and the party. The value that I am going to bring to the party is in terms of mobilization and making women at national level a priority,” Among stated.
Kadaga, who also seeks re-election as Kamuli Woman MP, emphasized her role in advocating for the creation of the second national vice-chairperson (female) position and expressed confidence in retaining it. She explained that the position was established to ensure women’s perspectives informed NRM’s policy output, Cabinet decisions and parliamentary discussions.
“This position was lobbied for by the NRM women members to bring the women’s perspectives into policy, programmes and innovation of the party,” Kadaga said.
Analysts also note the entry of President Museveni’s brother, Sedrack Kaguta Nzeire, suggesting the First Family’s interest in maintaining control over strategic levers of power within the party. Nzeire, current NRM chairperson for Kiruhura district, is contesting for the party’s vice-chairperson seat for the western region, currently held by Information Minister and Kinkizi East MP Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
“Proud to accept the NRM vice-chairperson nomination for the western region. My campaign poster speaks for itself — unity, action, loyalty. Together, we’ll amplify your voice and build on our grassroots legacy,” Nzeire stated.
The re-emergence of veteran political actors like former Vice Presidents Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and Edward Ssekandi as “kingmakers” or endorsers in this race signals what analysts describe as a reactivation of dormant factions within the NRM. Both Bukenya and Ssekandi, a former speaker of Parliament, accompanied microfinance state minister Haruna Kasolo as he sought to unseat Godfrey Kiwanda from the CEC position of NRM vice-chairperson for the central region/Buganda. Kiwanda, a former MP and minister, also vowed to retain his CEC position.
Kasolo described the political backing from Bukenya and Ssekandi as a “strong” push from NRM pillars in the central region. “We want a mobilizer and somebody who will fill up that gap. People in the central region are undecided, but there is no person who can persuade them to go to the government side,” Kasolo argued.
Kaheru explained that these are not mere endorsements but “alignments of ideological and strategic intent.” “What we are witnessing, therefore, is not chaos, but calculated coalition-building. Different political clusters within the party are coalescing around candidates they believe best represent their interests in a changing power terrain,” he said.
This, Kaheru suggested, could explain the rivalry between Among and Kadaga, framing it as a contest “not just of personalities, but of constituencies within the State.”
For others, CEC membership offers something more personal: legitimacy and political insulation. “For instance, politicians facing local discontent, internal party rivalries or corruption allegations often see CEC membership as a form of political indemnity,” Kaheru said. “It offers direct access to the President and can be wielded as both a shield and a sword in navigating Uganda’s turbulent political waters.”
Seasoned NRM politicians told New Vision that the symbolism of who backs whom is paramount. “It speaks volumes about the behind-the-scenes negotiations within Uganda’s political establishment. These are not just political blessings, they are signals to the wider political class about who is in or out of favor, and where future power may lie,” one veteran NRM politician stated. “In a context where formal structures may at times be subordinate to informal influence, such endorsements matter.”
