A faction within the National Resistance Movement (NRM), consisting of both young and senior members, has strongly opposed the recently unveiled party roadmap, demanding urgent reforms to uphold internal democracy.
During a gathering in Kampala on Friday, the group, led by a youthful Mbabali Shafik Mwanamugimu and Dr. Donkim Mordecai Mtombali, the NRM Head of Operations, expressed frustration over delays in electing party structures and the lack of transparency in selecting leaders.
Mbabali Shafik, General Secretary of the New Generation, emphasized the importance of Article 41, Clause 1 of the NRM constitution. He pointed out that the party’s guidelines clearly mandate that leadership structures should be determined through transparent elections, reinforcing their call for democratic processes.
The group argues that all leadership positions should be filled through competitive elections rather than appointments. They believe the roadmap presented by Dr. Tanga Odoi undermines the party’s democratic foundations and, therefore, must be revised.
In response, they have issued a seven-day ultimatum to Dr. Odoi to amend the roadmap in line with their demands. Failure to do so, they warn, will prompt nationwide mobilization of NRM supporters to storm the party headquarters, seize leadership, and conduct fresh elections for all positions.
Additionally, they have called upon President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM National Chairman, to uphold democratic values by ensuring that all leadership roles—from the national chairperson to the LC1 level—are filled through proper elections.
Despite their demands for change, they have proposed that the current Deputy National Chairman, Al Hajji Moses Kigongo, remain in his position unopposed, citing his extensive experience and service to the party.
Their discontent also stems from reports suggesting that President Museveni’s endorsement as the sole party candidate was orchestrated in exchange for securing positions for select secretariat members. The group argues that such moves compromise the party’s democratic principles.
Furthermore, they insist that leaders should only be elected by members from their respective regions, rather than being imposed from elsewhere. They are also demanding the immediate convening of a National Delegates Conference to elect new leaders, pointing out that the last such gathering took place nearly a decade ago at Namboole Stadium.
With tensions rising within the ruling party, the pressure is now on the NRM leadership to respond to these demands before the deadline lapses. Whether their calls for reform will be met remains uncertain, but their activism signals a growing push for change within Uganda’s most dominant political party.
