By Frank Kamuntu
Mbarara: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Vice Chairman, Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, on Friday stormed Mbarara District in a bid to reconcile party flag bearers with aggrieved independents who lost in the recent primaries. However, his mission hit a rough patch after several independent candidates demanded ministerial appointments and other high-profile government jobs as a condition for stepping down.
The meeting, held at the newly built Mbarara NRM offices constructed single-handedly by the district chairman, Prosper Tuhaise Kururagire turned tense when Kigongo’s calls for unity met defiance from some former aspirants.
Among those spearheading the demands for “juicy” government positions was Tumwesigye Didas Tabaro, the Mbarara District LCV incumbent, who insisted that he could only withdraw from the race if assured of a ministerial post.
Tabaro, who has long been accused by locals of corruption and land grabbing, is reportedly under investigation by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over several land-related scandals. Many voters have often cited these controversies as the reason they lost trust in him during the primaries, branding him “selfish and disconnected from the people.”
Kigongo, visibly angered by such demands, lashed out at Tabaro and other aspirants, accusing them of holding the party at ransom.
“You cannot say you love NRM and at the same time threaten to sabotage it unless you are given a ministerial seat,” Kigongo fumed. “We have fought for this party for decades, and it will never be reduced to a market where loyalty is bought with positions.”
Kigongo’s frustration reflected the growing concern within NRM about internal wrangles and the mushrooming of independents who split the vote during general elections.
In his remarks, Prosper Tuhaise Kururagire condemned politicians who view politics as a business venture rather than a service to the people.
“It’s unfortunate that some leaders think about what they will gain, not how they will serve Ugandans,” Prosper said. “When someone demands a job before serving, it clearly shows they came into politics for survival, not leadership.”
He commended voters for rejecting such individuals during the primaries, saying it was a blessing in disguise because “they would have used offices to enrich themselves, not to serve the people.”
Prosper also rallied the people of Mbarara and Ugandans at large to rally behind NRM flag bearers and President Yoweri Museveni ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“Without Museveni, we have no focus for 2026. Let us unite behind our chairman and hunt for votes house to house, village to village,” he emphasized.
He pledged to lead by example, assuring Kigongo that he would personally spearhead strategic campaign drives for President Museveni across the entire western region.
“This term, we are not just campaigning we are thanking President Museveni for his sacrifice and visionary leadership since the 1980s,” Prosper vowed. “We shall reach the youth, women, and even the opposition, to bring them back home to NRM.”
Despite the heated exchanges, Kigongo maintained that reconciliation within the party remains a top priority as NRM gears up for 2026. He urged members to remain disciplined, loyal, and committed to President Museveni’s vision of stability, peace, and transformation.
WhatsApp/Call: +256 754 137391
