During Thursday’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) session, President Yoweri Museveni, acting in his capacity as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Chairman, stepped in to manage internal competition within the party. He successfully persuaded a few contestants—including his own brother, Nzeire—to withdraw from the ongoing race.
Some lesser-known candidates reportedly cited unemployment as their primary motivation for contesting. In response, the veteran leader from Rwakitura offered them Resident District Commissioner (RDC) positions as an incentive to abandon their bids.
Each contestant vying for a position was invited in and given three minutes to present themselves. In some cases, clarification questions were posed to better understand their motivations and qualifications.
However, the session turned particularly tense when the matter of the 2nd National Vice Chairperson position came up—a seat currently contested by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and her predecessor, Rebecca Kadaga.
President Museveni made a bold attempt to broker peace between the two powerful women. He urged them to sit down and strike a compromise, suggesting that one should step aside for the other. In a generous and clear-cut offer, he assured that whoever agreed to withdraw would be rewarded with a coveted CEC position. As the NRM’s founding Chairman, Museveni holds the authority to nominate up to five members to the Committee, and he promised one of those slots to whichever candidate chose to bow out.
“This Presidential assurance would have seen both women retained within the top ranks of the party,” a source noted. “They would both become part of CEC without enduring the bitter and energy-draining contest currently unfolding.”
Despite the clarity and benefits of the offer, personal egos and rivalry prevailed. Both Among and Kadaga flatly rejected the President’s proposal, refusing to step down in favor of the other. Their defiance effectively nullified Museveni’s de-escalation plan, meaning the race will continue to its conclusion with one inevitable loser and one winner—rather than two victors as envisioned in the President’s compromise.
Sources close to the meeting said Museveni appeared visibly displeased by their rejection. Many participants at the session had found the proposal reasonable and strategic. The fact that both contestants dismissed it outright was seen as an act of disrespect toward the Chairman.
The tension didn’t end there. When the discussion turned to candidates from the Buganda region, President Museveni directly confronted businessman Moses Karangwa, a prominent figure seeking to become NRM Vice Chairman for Buganda.
As Karangwa and other contestants entered the meeting room, Museveni made remarks that reportedly left Karangwa emotionally deflated.
“Eeh Karangwa you are also here? You have a lot of land problems of marginalizing other people and this is something [Kayunga Woman MP Idah] Nantaba has been reporting to me for some time but then more recently, we got a petition from some people accusing you of perpetrating land injustice and the matter is being handled by Gen Nalweyiso who has been inquiring into it. In fact, we are planning to call you here to face your accusers so that we get to the bottom of that problem,” sources quoted the President as saying.
The public confrontation is likely to deal a significant blow to Karangwa’s political ambitions. As the ruling party’s Kayunga Chairman, his credibility may now come under further scrutiny, particularly in light of the ongoing land-related investigations.
