The political temperature in Namutumba is rising fast as State Minister for Housing, Hon. Princess Persis Namuganza, publicly threatened to quit the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) over what she described as a rigged party primary election. In a bold speech delivered on Saturday at Namutumba Town Council headquarters, Namuganza accused senior NRM leaders of interfering with the internal elections to favor their preferred candidates.
Namuganza alleged that the primaries were marred by serious irregularities, including voter intimidation, fraud, and manipulation of results. She pointed fingers at Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi, claiming they led a plot to undermine genuine leaders from the Busoga region. According to Namuganza, such actions are not only undemocratic but also dangerous to the unity of the party and the trust of the people.
She went further to say that Brenda Nakisita was the rightful winner of the Woman Member of Parliament race, while she herself had clearly won in Bukono. However, due to what she called “backdoor dealings,” both were unfairly denied their victories. She blamed local registrars and security operatives for carrying out orders from top party figures instead of letting the people’s voice be heard.
As a result, frustration boiled over in Namutumba, with angry supporters taking to the streets. Protesters blocked roads, burned NRM-branded T-shirts, and held demonstrations targeting Registrar Mwanja Richard, accusing him of fueling the alleged vote rigging.
In a surprising twist, Registrar Mwanja on Saturday changed the results for the Busiki seat, naming Waiswa Joel Azalwa as the NRM flagbearer, a day after declaring Paul Akamba the winner. This sudden U-turn only added more fire to the growing tension within the party.
Namuganza issued a stern warning: if the issues are not resolved, she might run as an independent candidate or even join another political party. She also hinted at a possible boycott of the upcoming LC5 primaries if the electoral confusion continues.
With the 2026 general elections around the corner, Namuganza’s statements have sent shockwaves through the NRM. The party now finds itself at a crossroads, facing internal rebellion and a serious test of its democratic values.
