Exclusive: Mpigi NRM leaders panic Hon Ameria announces political retirement, anoints her PA Kabuye Francis for Mawokota North MP seat

The leaders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in Mpigi are panicking after ex-minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Ann Ameria Kyambade announced her political retirement and anointed her political assistant Kabuye Francis for Mawokota North parliamentary seat in 2026.

Earlier this year Hon Ameria Kyambade declared her interest in contesting again for the seat, and many of her supporters and NRM members especially leaders started flocking to her Muduuma residence pledging support for her candidature.

However, they have been shocked by the news of her retirement and many are trying to convince her to stand again to give weight to the weakened NRM party in the district to overpower Hon Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert’s National Unity Platform (NUP) in 2026.

“I want to declare that I’m not going to contest again. You told me you want youthful leaders. I see my political assistant Kabuye Francis a suitable candidate for you,” says Hon Ameria Kyambade.

“He is a religious and a pro-Buganda youthful leader, who can serve you better!”, she added.

Who is Kabuye Francis?

Education background:

In 2019 he was awarded a postgraduate diploma in Project Monitoring and Evaluation from Uganda Management Institute- Kampala.

In 2009 he graduated from Makerere University- Kampala with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Finance Option).

In 2002 he finished his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) level at St. M. Kalemba’s S.S. Nazigo and Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) level at St. Henry’s College Kitovu.

Mr. Kabuye is the Head of Policy and Advocacy at FSME. As a Policy officer at FSME, he has been able to gain knowledge and experience in Policy formulation and advocacy through attending a number of Policy trainings, workshops and advocacy consortiums. Out of these programs, I have often supported a number of trade-related Policy formulation and advocacy initiatives on tax, trade and industry, and Public Procurement among others, at Institutional and Government levels.

In 2021/22 he served as the Project manager for the SME4TRADE Initiative which aimed to create awareness and build the capacity of SMEs for the AfCFTA. Under this program, implemented by the Federation of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises-Uganda with support from UNDP, over 300 SMEs across the Country were taken through Export readiness training using an SME-customized Export Manual.

As a Political Assistant to a Senior Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament, he was charged with the following duties and responsibilities; managing the principal’s itinerary both locally and abroad, managing the principal’s diary and official meetings, correspondence and official communication, and constituency mobilization among other responsibilities.

From 2008 to 2011, Mr Kabuye was the personal secretary to Mawokota Ssaza Chief – Kayima, and between 2009-2011 he served as a member of the Buganda Youth Council (BYC) representing Mawokota County in the Buganda Lukiiko.