By The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) conducted its internal party elections on Thursday, selecting flag bearers for the 2026 parliamentary elections. While several top government officials retained their grip on party endorsement, the polls also delivered stunning upsets that have sent ripples through Uganda’s political landscape.
Among those who cruised to victory were Vice President Jessica Alupo, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, and First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga. These political heavyweights secured overwhelming support in their respective constituencies, reaffirming their influence within the ruling party.
However, the primaries were equally defined by dramatic defeats of longstanding figures shocking losses that underscored shifting dynamics within the NRM’s grassroots support.
In Buyaga West, veteran MP Barnabas Tinkasimire, who has served for 20 years, was overwhelmingly unseated by Denis Namara, who garnered a commanding 48,166 votes against Tinkasimire’s 18,288. The defeat marks a significant fall for the outspoken lawmaker and signals a changing tide in the constituency.
Equally surprising was the outcome in Bukoto South, where incumbent MP Twaha Kagabo who controversially defected from the National Unity Platform (NUP) to the NRM—was defeated by former MP Hajji Muyanja Mbabali in a closely fought contest.
One of the most dramatic turnarounds came in Lwemiyaga County, Sembabule District, where long-serving legislator Theodore Ssekikubo, a vocal figure in parliamentary debates and a two-decade veteran, was edged out by Brig. (Rtd) Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande. The contest was one of the most heated in this round of NRM primaries, and Ssekikubo’s loss has sparked widespread reaction among political observers.
The primary results reflect both the resilience of the NRM’s established leadership and the growing demand for new representation within its ranks. As the dust settles, the party now faces the task of consolidating its base ahead of the 2026 general elections, while managing the fallout from the unexpected exits of key party figures.
