NRM local council primaries shake up leadership across greater Bushenyi

BUSHENYI - In a dramatic shakeup of NRM leadership in the Greater Bushenyi sub-region, three incumbent district chairpersons have been ousted in the hotly contested party primaries ahead of the 2026 general election.

The ruling party yesterday, July 24, 2025, held its local government council primaries (for division mayors, Lord mayor, municipality mayors, LC3 chairperson, town council/municipal division mayor, directly elected councillors at the district, municipal and sub-county level and woman councillor at district, municipal and subcounty level) across the whole country in over 70,000 villages.

The primaries followed the ones of Member of Parliament held a week earlier.

In Mitooma district, Alex Karitundu Okanga emerged as the NRM LC5 chairperson seat flag-bearer after defeating incumbent Benon Karyeija, who has held the position since the district was carved out of Bushenyi 15 years ago.

At around midnight, Mitooma National Resistance Movement (NRM) party registrar Ephraim Kyabakama declared the results at the district headquarters, bringing the tense primary contest to a close.

Karitundu garnered 27,501 votes, defeating Karyeija, who polled 20,779 votes. Greenford Mucunguzi Kapota came third with 8,424 votes. Voting was conducted across all 564 polling stations in the district.

“The exercise was free, fair, and peaceful, and we are confident that the will of the people has been respected,” Kyabakama said.

Speaking at the event, Mitooma NRM chairperson Moses Tumwekwatse and his predecessor, Byaboneka Wilberforce, called for unity within the party and urged members to rally behind the flag-bearers in preparation for the general elections.

In his victory speech, Karitundu pledged to promote inclusive development and ensure equal opportunities for all.

“It’s now time to unite and build a Mitooma where everyone enjoys equal rights and services, with no segregation,” he said.

Karyeija, a veteran in local government, previously served as LC5 councillor for Bitereko sub-county under the former Ruhinda constituency before becoming Mitooma’s founding district chairperson.

Silvestre Agubanshongorire, the Rubirizi District LC5 chairperson, was defeated in the NRM primaries. (Credit: Credit Bruno Mugizi)

Rubirizi incumbent narrowly defeated

In Rubirizi district, incumbent chairperson Agubanshongorire Silvestre was narrowly defeated by Agaba Obed, who polled 10,038 votes against Silvestre’s 9,650 votes.

Journalist beats incumbent in Bushenyi

In Bushenyi district, the biggest upset came when journalist Prosper Twebaze unseated long-serving chairperson Jaffari Basajjabalaba in a landslide victory.

Twebaze, running on a grassroots-focused message, secured 66,101 votes, while Jaffari managed 10,597 votes. The results were declared by Bushenyi district NRM registrar Archangel Barekye at around 8:00pm on July 24, 2025.

Jaffari, a seasoned politician, previously chaired the District Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and served as a councillor for Ishaka Division before ascending to the district chair.

As the final tally was announced, jubilant supporters gathered at the Bushenyi district headquarters where the tallying took place, chanting “Omworo waitu” — a Runyankore phrase meaning “Our poor person” — in celebration of Prosper’s humble background and grassroots appeal.

Winners of the NRM LCV and Municipality Flag in Greater Bushenyi

• Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality: Byaruhanga Richard

• Sheema Municipality: Nakarisa Rukia

• Sheema District: Jemimah Buhanda

• Buhweju District (LC5): Atuhaire Deo