Once upon a political time, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Kigezi was a house of ideas, unity, and popular mandate. Today, that house is shaking—cracking under the weight of political impunity, individual influence, and betrayal of grassroots democracy. The once vibrant yellow flame is dimming, not because of opposition strength, but because of internal sabotage by untouchable political superpowers who have hijacked the party and turned it into their private empire.
Across the hills and valleys of Kigezi—from Kisoro to Rukungiri, from Kabale to Kanungu—the political ground is no longer fertile for free thought. The NRM in our region has been hijacked by a cartel of powerful individuals who act like gods, deciding who wins and who loses, who rises and who falls, and who is blessed and who is buried politically. These self-proclaimed kingmakers have become the greatest threat to the party’s survival.
During the last NRM primary elections for parliamentary and local council seats, what was supposed to be a democratic process turned into a parade of influence-peddling. Instead of voters choosing their leaders, NRM bigwigs—some with ministerial titles, others with vast wealth and access to State House corridors—marched in with money, coercion, and instructions. They lobbied, threatened, and manipulated registrars to declare victory for their chosen candidates. The people’s voice was drowned in the noise of power and greed.
Take the case of Rubabo County in Rukungiri. The name Wright Mwongyera now echoes in courtrooms and conversations, not for any political achievement, but for allegedly faking election results during the NRM primaries. It’s a scandal that has embarrassed the party and fueled the narrative that justice in NRM is only for the powerless. The people of Rubabo know what happened. They saw it unfold. Their faith in internal democracy was butchered in broad daylight.
Registrars Turned Puppets, RDCs Turned Victims
The influence of these NRM bigwigs doesn’t stop at elections. Even civil servants who refuse to align with their interests are not safe. Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), once seen as presidential watchdogs, are now political casualties—transferred like pawns on a chessboard simply for not dancing to the tune of a few self-important individuals. When politics eats professionalism, the result is public service paralysis and fear.
In the recent NRM elections, there were more recorded cases of electoral malpractice in Kigezi than ever before. From voter bribery to suspicious tallying, the NRM flag became soaked in controversy. District NRM chairpersons, who should be neutral facilitators of democracy, turned into biased referees, blowing the whistle only in favor of their preferred players. Many of them stood boldly in press conferences, endorsing candidates before elections even happened, mocking the intelligence of the electorate.
Impunity is Driving Loyal NRM Supporters Away.
People are tired. Loyal NRM supporters feel betrayed, ignored, and used. Many have vowed never to vote again—not because they’ve joined the opposition, but because they feel their vote in NRM primaries no longer counts unless it’s approved by a political ‘don.’ Youths who once believed in the Movement now whisper of betrayal. Women leaders feel silenced.
With 2026 around the corner, many former NRM flag aspirants who lost unfairly are preparing to return—this time as independent candidates. And rightly so. Because reconciliation hasn’t come. Those who inflicted the wounds now pretend the wounds never existed. No apology. No roundtable dialogue. The political bruises are still fresh, and the culprits remain untouchable.
NRM superpowers have become so intoxicated with influence that they no longer even pretend to support reconciliation. They no longer call for unity meetings. They fear democracy because democracy threatens their grip. In their mind, democracy must be edited, curated, and auctioned to the highest bidder.
A Call to the President: Rescue Your Party
Your Excellency, Mr. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, people need your intervention. The NRM in Kigezi is bleeding. The silence from above is giving room to tyranny below. We need a genuine reconciliation process that brings together all former NRM flag aspirants, whether they won or lost. We need to return to the founding spirit of the Movement—where ideas, not influence, determined leadership. We need to bury the politics of big men and resurrect the politics of big ideas.
Let the people choose their flag bearers without fear, without manipulation. Let district registrars serve the people—not the powerful. Let RDCs be left to serve the presidency—not politicians. And let those who committed electoral malpractice face justice, regardless of their connections.
The Road Ahead Must Prioritize the Will of the People Over the Influence of the Powerful.
Politics in Kigezi must rise again—not under the shadow of superpowers, but under the sunlight of democracy. If NRM is to survive here, it must cleanse itself of arrogance and return to the people. The message from the hills is clear: we don’t want to be ruled by a few—we want to be represented by the many.
The people of Kigezi are not foolish. They are watching. They are talking. And in 2026, they will act. Whether it’s under the NRM flag, the umbrella of the independents, or another banner altogether, the power of the people will speak louder than the influence of a few.
Let this be a wake-up call, not a eulogy.
Let this be the beginning of healing, not another chapter of betrayal.
By Bob Rumanzi
Patriotic Youth, Kigezi Region
