Bukomansimbi NRM row: Members reject imposed flag bearer

Members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Bukomansimbi District are up in arms against the party's district executive committee for imposing Ms Ruth Katushabe as the flag bearer for the district woman parliamentary seat.

Ms Aisha Nalujja, another aspirant for the seat, has refused to withdraw from the race despite pressure from the district NRM party chairperson, Shafik Mwanje, and other executive members.

"I have been preparing myself for that seat in the last two years. I have invested a lot of time and money and I cannot just accept their requests," Ms Nalujja said. "We need to go through the party primaries and leave it to members to decide their preferred candidate instead of handpicking a flag bearer."

Ms Nalujja also emphasized the need for young and fresh faces in the race, saying, "We need young, fresh faces in the race, not the same old people who already failed in their constituencies."

However, Mr Mwanje justified the decision to impose Ms Katushabe as the flag bearer, saying it was done to avoid internal conflicts and to ensure that the party presents a united front in the 2026 general elections.

"We are doing this for the good of the party. We want to align all NRM aspirants eying different constituencies to rally behind a single candidate to avoid splitting the vote and allowing independent candidates to gain an advantage," he said.

The move has been met with resistance from other aspirants, including Mr Meddie Walugembe, who is vying for the position of district chairperson seat. Mr Walugembe accused Mr Mwanje of using his political influence and money to fail members who mean well for the party.

"We are witnessing dictatorship in our party which we cannot accept," he said.

The NRM primaries, which are usually characterised by chaos and vote rigging, are expected to be conducted in August this year. Like it was done in 2020, party members will line up behind their preferred candidates.

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