KAMPALA, UGANDA — The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s top leadership meeting was marked by internal friction and a surprising standoff as two of its most senior female leaders refused to cede ground in a fight for a key party position.
Sources within the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) confirmed that the body unanimously approved President Yoweri Museveni as the party’s presidential flag bearer and chairman for the upcoming 2026 general elections. The motion, moved by Vice Chairman Mike Mukula and supported by Vice Chairman Godfrey Kiwanda Ssubi, was based on numerous district-level resolutions supporting Museveni’s candidature.
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Kiwanda confirmed the move, stating, “As a party, we believe he is the best person to carry our flag in 2026.”
However, the session became contentious during the vetting of the party’s second vice-chairperson. The position is being contested by former Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and current Speaker Anita Among. According to CEC sources, the meeting became a “real battle” as members failed to agree on a single candidate to endorse.
In an attempt to resolve the deadlock, senior CEC members suggested that Kadaga and Among meet and agree on who would step aside. The proposal was to appoint the candidate who withdrew to an “eminent party cadre” slot within the committee, but both women rejected the offer.
A source inside the CEC revealed that Kadaga refused first, citing her long history of diligent service to the party. Among also reportedly rejected the offer, arguing that the position is a preserve for the sitting speaker and that Kadaga no longer holds that office.
The stalemate forced the CEC to forward both names to the National Executive Council (NEC), which is scheduled to meet on Saturday. If the NEC fails to decide, the matter will go to a vote at the delegates’ conference on Aug. 27-28.
Earlier in the meeting, other positions were settled with less drama. Moses Kigongo was endorsed as the party’s first vice-chairperson after his competitors — Emmanuel Dinni Kisembo, Bridge Agaba and Samuel Oledo Odongo — voluntarily withdrew from the race.
Kisembo later explained his decision, saying, “I opted out because of cohesion and stability of the party.”
