KABALE, UGANDA – The NRM National Treasurer, Jackline Kyatuheire, has clarified that Kabale District Acting NRM Chairperson, Ms. Bridget Asinga Tumwesigye, has not violated any party guidelines requiring her to step down, as reported in recent media outlets.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Ms. Kyatuheire made the clarification today as she addressed a press conference in Kabale District, to provide updates on the ongoing mobilization activities in the Kigezi sub-region for the NRM and its presidential candidate, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
She responded to journalists’ questions regarding a notice of intention to sue, in which one Mathias Besigye threatened to drag Ms. Asinga to court unless she resigned from her position as NRM Chairperson in Kabale District. The grounds for Besigye’s notice of intention to Sue, stemmed from Asinga’s nomination of Shadow Attorney General Wilfred Niwagaba for re-election as Ndorwa East MP.
Ms. Bridget Asinga became the acting NRM Chairperson for Kabale District after State Minister of Industry David Bahati was compelled to step down following his decision to contest as an independent candidate in the 2026 Ndorwa West MP election.
While speaking at Cephas Inn Hotel today, Kyatuheire clarified that, although Ms. Asinga nominated an opposition candidate, this occurred before she assumed her role as Acting NRM Chairperson. She further revealed that Ms. Asinga had since denounced support for Wilfred Niwagaba promising to execute her new tasks as District NRM Chairperson without fail.
“She told us that she was not aware it was wrong for her to nominate an independent candidate while serving as the NRM Vice Chairperson, and we decided to let it go, after she pledged commitment to her new roles” Kyatuheire explained.
The NRM Treasurer noted that the party’s constitution is unclear on members who nominate opposition candidates, and therefore, they chose not to pursue legal action against Ms. Asinga for her previous actions.
Kyatuheire also disclosed that investigations revealed most members of the Kabale District NRM Executive Committee were supporting candidates who did not carry the party flag, especially independents. To avoid escalating the situation, the party decided to manage the “crisis” strategically without disciplinary action.
“We could not take action against all of them without causing another crisis,” she said.
She added that the NRM Secretariat is closely monitoring Kabale District to prevent the repetition of past mistakes, particularly by top party leaders.
Kyatuheire further explained that she has been appointed to lead the mobilization efforts for the NRM in the Kigezi sub-region, with retired Lt. Col. Edward Natumanya serving as her deputy. The NRM Auditor, Mr. Moses Ntahobari, is also part of the campaign team supporting the party’s efforts in the region.
She mentioned that the NRM Secretariat is collaborating with the Heads of Patriotism, the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), and the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).
This collaboration involves working alongside district NRM executive committees, led by district chairpersons, with grassroots mobilization conducted by a 63-member team at the village level, led by the respective NRM chairpersons.
“After President Yoweri Museveni left Western Uganda, we decided not to follow him everywhere he goes but instead focus on grassroots level mobilization and explaining the NRM Manifesto to the people,” she stated.
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