As Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) prepares for its District Executive Committee elections on May 23, Rukungiri District has emerged as an unexpected focal point of national attention.
The contest for the NRM District Chairperson seat has evolved into a political showdown, putting two retired generals against a rising civilian challenger in a race that reflects deeper tensions within the party and offers a glimpse into the country’s evolving political landscape.
The race brings together Maj Gen (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi, Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde, and Kabano Apollo Kyabarongo, three men with starkly different political profiles and visions for the future. At stake is not just control over the party’s district leadership but also the shape of NRM’s internal power dynamics heading into the 2026 general elections.
Jim Muhwezi, 75, is the current Minister for Security and Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County. A veteran of the 1981–86 bush war, he became Uganda’s first Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and has since held several prominent cabinet positions, including Minister of Health, Minister of Information, and Minister of Education. He remains closely aligned with President Yoweri Museveni and is widely regarded as the party establishment’s preferred candidate.
Challenging him is Henry Tumukunde, 66, a former Minister for Security, presidential aspirant in the 2021 elections, and a decorated army officer who once served as Chief of Military Intelligence. Known for his unfiltered rhetoric and maverick political style, Tumukunde has long styled himself as a reformist within the NRM.
His 2020 arrest on charges many considered politically driven only amplified his reputation as an independent-minded figure.He is now campaigning for both the Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary seat and the district chairmanship, presenting himself as a credible alternative to long-standing political monopolies.
The third contender, Kabano Apollo Kyabarongo, is the youngest of the trio at 38 and has no military background. A businessman and community activist, Kabano represents a new generation of political actors seeking to disrupt the dominance of established elites. His campaign is built around themes of transformation, accountability, and youth empowerment messages that are resonating strongly among first-time voters and segments of the population that feel excluded from mainstream politics. Kabano’s simultaneous run for the Rukungiri Municipality MP seat further points out his determination to rearrange the local political order.
As Rukungiri voters prepare to head to the polls, several critical questions remain: Can Kabano’s grassroots campaign and youth-driven support overcome the odds? Will Tumukunde’s reformist message and military lineage be enough to unseat a deeply entrenched incumbent? And should the results be contested, will the NRM manage to contain any fallout ahead of the 2026 general elections?
Whatever the outcome, the Rukungiri race has already signalled that political winds are shifting. What unfolds here could set the tone for the NRM’s internal evolution and may well offer a preview of Uganda’s broader political trajectory in the years ahead.
