Tumukunde pulls out of ‘sham’ NRM elections presided over by ISO operative
Rtd Gen Henry Tumukunde in the tent after declining to participate in the NRM party elections at Rukungiri municipality stadium on May 23, 2025. PHOTO/RONALD KABANZA
What you need to know:
- Mr Jackson Mugarura, the Rukungiri district NRM registrar, admitted to working with ISO but said this could not stop him from taking charge of the elections for the NRM party, which has been in power since 1986 under the stewardship of President Museveni, 80.
Lt Gen (Rtd.) Henry Tumukunde has described the ongoing NRM party primary elections as a sham, alleging that it is marred by irregularities and violations of Uganda’s constitution.
Lt Gen Tumukunde had shown interest in contesting against the Security Minister, also Rujumbura County MP Gen (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi, as the district party chairperson for Rukungiri, but pulled out of the elections, alleging, among others, that the district registrar, Mr Jackson Mugarura, who superintended over the exercise, is a serving army officer.
“The district registrar is a serving intelligence officer with the Internal Security Organisation (ISO). Section 99 of the UPDF Act (2005) bars serving military officers from engaging in partisan politics, and Article 208(2) of the Constitution stipulates that the UPDF should remain non-partisan in elections,” he told journalists at Rukungiri Municipality stadium where the elections took place on Friday, May 23.
He said he had pulled out of the exercise because of “gross irregularities and violations of Uganda’s Constitution and military laws."
Mr Mugarura, the Rukungiri district NRM registrar, admitted to working with ISO but said this could not stop him from taking charge of the elections for the NRM party, which has been in power since 1986 under the stewardship of President Museveni, 80.
“The issue he is raising cannot stop me from conducting and overseeing these elections. This activity will continue and let Gen Tumukunde go to the courts of law if he is not satisfied with what we are doing," Mr Mugarura said.
Addressing the NRM party members after being elected as the district NRM party chairperson, Mr Muhwezi promised to strengthen the party's support from the grassroots up to the national level.
“Thank you for voting. I am very humbled and I promise to continue working for the party as usual. I am going to mobilise and strengthen party support in the district and the whole country,” Mr Muhwezi said.
On the issue of Mr Mugarura being a serving intelligence officer, Mr Muhwezi said there is nothing wrong with that because it is an internal party election.
“Mr Mugarura has been serving as the district registrar for over 25 years, and the election is an internal one for the NRM party, not a national electoral commission where the points he is raising matter.”
Mr Muhwezi pledged to strengthen the NRM party in Rukungiri, aiming for a 90 percent victory for the party in the upcoming general elections.
Rukungiri district is home to historical political leaders, including veteran opposition politician, Dr (Rtd Col) Kizza Besigye who has been on remand for over six months now.
