The recent Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections in Uganda’s ruling NRM party have left the political scene buzzing. Many veteran leaders were defeated by newcomers, with one of the most closely watched contests being between Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister, and Anita Among, the current Speaker of Parliament.
Kadaga suffered a heavy loss, securing only a small fraction of the votes compared to Among’s decisive victory. She openly criticized the process, claiming that her rival lacked a long history in the party and suggesting that rules requiring ten years of service were ignored.
President Yoweri Museveni has now responded to Kadaga’s complaints. He emphasized that in the NRM, length of service is not the most important factor. What truly matters is the ability to work for the people. Museveni even compared the situation to the biblical parable of the vineyard, where all workers—whether they worked all day or just one hour—were paid equally.
Museveni explained that the same principle applies to the NRM: whether a member joined recently or decades ago, everyone is equal. He warned against the “politics of identity,” where leaders feel entitled to positions simply because of their seniority, calling such attitudes both divisive and dangerous.
The President further argued that veteran leaders who had focused on delivering government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga would not need to worry about newcomers outshining them. “If you worked for the people, Anita Among would not have defeated you,” he bluntly told Kadaga and other senior party members.
Museveni also advised against treating new members as outsiders or “squatters,” stressing that excluding them weakens political organizations. He shared his own story of joining UPC at 25 and proving his worth despite being young and new.
In conclusion, Museveni underlined that the strength of the NRM depends on embracing all members willing to serve. “In political parties, all members should be equal,” he said, highlighting the importance of unity, contribution, and service over entitlement and seniority.
