Tough road for NRM as Independents dominate Ibanda MP nominations

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has its work cut out in Ibanda district to ensure its flag-bearers carry the day in the January 15, 2026, parliamentary elections.

This comes after disgruntled losers in the July NRM party primaries dominated the October 22-23, 2025, two-day nominations to contest for parliamentary seats as independent candidates.

There are four constituencies in Ibanda: Ibanda Municipality, Ibanda South and Ibanda North, plus the district Woman MP seat, for which 14 individuals were nominated to contest.

According to the Ibanda electoral district registrar, Aidah Barekye Nkaija, nine or 64.3% of the nominated parliamentary seat aspirants were independents, while four (28.6%) belong to the NRM party, and only one is for the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Of the nine independents, six lost the NRM primaries while three: Elias Tumubweine (Ibanda North County), Winfred Aganyira (District Woman MP seat) and Sarapio Betungura are newcomers.

Others are Godwin Mpairwe and Paulas Karekyezi (Ibanda South County), as well as Xavier Kyooma Akampurira, the current MP for Ibanda North County, and Raship Muganda Kirangwa and Innocent Bakamuhara returned as independents to contest for Ibanda Municipality seat after losing in the July NRM primaries and Caroline Arituha, who is contesting for the district Woman MP seat.

Overall, men constitute 71.4% of the total nominated candidates, with only four (28.6%) women in the race. Ten of the candidates were nominated on day one, while only four got the nod on October 23 during the exercise at the district council hall.

Party candidates

Only two parties, NRM and NUP, presented candidates in Ibanda district. The NRM Party flag-bearers are former Parish Development Model (PDM) deputy national co-ordinator Jovrine Kyomukama Kaliisa, nominated to contest for the district woman MP seat, Maj Guma Gumisiriza for Ibanda North County, Dr John Paul Ninkusima (Ibanda South County) and Pater Agaba is the ruling party’s flag-bearer for Ibanda Municipality.

Patricia Kenyangi is the National Unity Party (NUP) candidate for the Ibanda district woman MP seat.

Aspirants’ pledges

While addressing reporters after being nominated on October 23, the NRM-leaning Tumubweine said he was coming as a unifying factor in Ibanda North constituency, which is a hot-spot for election violence, divisionism and hate campaigns.

“The electorate were tired of politics of hatred and division along religious and tribal lines and wanted someone to promote the area’s development,” the current district vice chairman said.

Kirangwa (Ibanda Municipality) said municipality residents have been neglected by outgoing MP Hon. Tarsis Rwaburindore, adding that he would ensure proper representation and service delivery if elected.

Ninkusima (Ibanda South County) said he would promote primary health, improved coverage of clean water and electricity, especially in the hilly areas of Bwahwa, Irimya and Kicuzi, as well as access to better secondary education in the county.

District woman MP seat contender Kaliisa pledged to fight corruption in government programmes like PDM and Grow, if elected during the January 15 general elections.

Kenyangi Arituha and Ariganyira, on their part, said they would focus on lobbying for improved healthcare, support to the education sector and for better roads to ease access to markets for agriproducts.

Campaigns start November 10

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission district boss has advised the aspirants not to start campaigns, but to wait until November 10. The campaigns will end on January 12, 2026.

Nkaija added that there is a need to first harmonise the campaign programmes of the aspirants to avoid clashes and ensure the exercise moves smoothly.

She also noted that the nomination exercise ended without any incident in Ibanda.