Finally: NRM Caucus Approves Creation Of New Districts Ahead Of 2026 Elections, See Full List!

By Frank Kamuntu

Lawmakers of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have endorsed a proposal to split Tororo District into three new districts and elevate Tororo Municipality to city status. The caucus also supported the creation of Bughendera District out of Bundibugyo, citing the need to improve service delivery and resolve long-standing ethnic tensions in both regions.

The resolutions were announced by Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua while addressing journalists at Parliament on September 12, 2025. He said the decision followed a meeting earlier that day at State House, Entebbe.

“Having received the report of the Minister of Local Government, the caucus resolved to support the creation of Mukuju District, Mulanda District, Kisoko District, and Tororo City in the financial year 2025/2026, subject to the law. We also agreed to support the creation of Bughendera District out of Bundibugyo District in the same financial year, and to handle other districts, cities and municipalities subsequently in the period 2026–2031,” Obua stated.

Journalists questioned whether the move amounted to gerrymandering since the Electoral Commission is already deep into preparations for the 2026 general elections. However, Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi dismissed the concerns, insisting the decision was purely for service delivery and not political advantage. He cited the example of Nakawa constituency, which was split but both seats were won by the Opposition, as proof that such actions do not necessarily benefit the ruling party.

“Where is the gerrymandering in that? When we split Nakawa, both constituencies were taken by Opposition MPs. We are doing this purely for service delivery, peace and security. Once the people express their will through council resolutions, it is my duty as Minister to study and present it to Cabinet, then to Parliament. That process is lawful,” Magyezi argued.

On the financial implications, Magyezi revealed that the Ministry would require about UGX 26 billion to operationalize the new units. He urged Ugandans not to focus only on the cost but also on the benefits of decentralization. “Yes, there is a financial burden, but there is also a benefit. Uganda’s population is growing rapidly, and urbanization is at 5.3% annually, the fastest rate in Africa. People want services closer to them, and that’s what we are addressing,” he said.

He added that while Parliament may pass the resolutions, it will be up to the Electoral Commission and Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa to determine when elections for the new constituencies will be held. “The law provides that a district created after a general election takes effect six months before the next one. That is why we are talking about deeming them created in July 2025, but it is the Electoral Commission and Attorney General who will interpret and decide,” he clarified.

The creation of the new units will inevitably increase the number of legislators. Currently, Tororo has a Woman MP and a Municipality MP. With the changes, each of the three new districts will get a Woman MP, while Tororo City will have its own Woman MP and two Division MPs. Government expressed optimism that the development would end decades-long ethnic conflict between the Iteso and Japadhola communities. Under the arrangement, Tororo City will serve as the headquarters for the three new districts while retaining the cherished name “Tororo.”

Similarly, Bundibugyo’s split was defended on grounds of deep-rooted ethnic divisions in Bughendera County, which have at times turned violent. Magyezi recalled that during past clashes among the Bakonzo, Bamba, and Busi communities, at least three people were killed.

Obua further revealed that the caucus passed additional resolutions, including endorsing President Museveni as NRM National Chairperson and Presidential Candidate for 2026, receiving the audit of the NRM membership register, and supporting efforts to clean up Uganda’s electoral process. “We are committed to removing pollutants like the unregulated use of money, alteration of results, and extortion in elections, while robustly supporting wealth creation among our people,” Obua said.