The head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) in the National Resistance Movement Party, Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiyi, has criticized political pressure groups for imposing their agenda on Ugandans.
Speaking from ONC offices in Kyambogo, she emphasized that Uganda is a democratic and sovereign state where citizens have the right to choose their leaders, from local councilors to the president.Her remarks follow the rebranding of the MK Movement into the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), with Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the chief principal.
Prominent NRM members like Captain Mike Mukula, the vice chairman for eastern Uganda, and several MPs, have shown support for PLU at its February 2024 launch.
Namyalo asserted that Ugandans have the right to select their leaders, suggesting that pressure groups should nominate their candidates if they intend to contest in the 2026 presidential elections, instead of misleading the public about President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s candidacy.
“As Office of the National Chairman, it is evident that H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be on the ballot. Those attempting to sow confusion and deceive Ugandans should use their intellect, as our national chairman, Museveni, has not indicated otherwise,” she stated, highlighting the recent launch of the party register as a signal of Museveni’s intent to run in 2026.
Namyalo urged PLU members to refrain from confusing the public and instead encourage NRM believers in Museveni to register with the party at their village councils in preparation for the 2026 elections.She advised potential challengers to Museveni to engage in fair competition rather than impose themselves on Ugandans.
Namyalo also called for mature political discourse from pressure groups, discouraging vulgar behavior on social media, and emphasized that power transitions should occur through the ballot.Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8th, Namyalo encouraged women to embrace entrepreneurship to uplift their families from poverty.
She mentioned that ONC has dispatched vehicles with supplies to Katakwi district for the national celebrations.
