GIDEON TUMWIJUKYE
Former Kabale Member of Parliament, Andrew Aja Baryayanga, has criticized the recent endorsement of Minister David Bahati as the Kabale District National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson.
Baryayanga’s comments come after a group of NRM leaders endorsed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the National NRM Chairperson and Minister Bahati as the District NRM Chairperson during the Kabale District NRM Liberation Day celebrations held in Kabale Municipality.
The endorsement, supported by sub-county chairpersons and a section of NRM leaders, has not been welcomed by all party members. Emily Mporera, the NRM Chairperson for Northern Division in Kabale Municipality, is among those hesitant to endorse Minister Bahati.
In response, Andrew Aja Baryayanga, who is also vying for the same position, dismissed the endorsement, labeling it as a decision made in panic. He argued that the endorsement should have been made by the NRM Executive Committee, not during the Liberation Day celebrations.
Baryayanga further criticized Minister Bahati’s leadership, accusing him of failing to unite the party and contributing to Kabale District having only one NRM Member of Parliament, with the majority of representatives being from the opposition or independents.
He stated that the party has lost its strength in Kabale due to Minister Bahati’s leadership style, which he claimed fosters division by positioning himself as the sole dominant figure. Baryayanga pledged to bring fairness and inclusivity to the party and restore its former glory.
