By Aggrey Baba
What was meant to be a celebration of NRM’s 39 years in power turned into a political battleground in Kabale Municipality on Sunday.
The event, held at Kabale Main Stadium, saw sparks fly as State Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives David Bahati clashed with former MP Andrew Baryayanga Aja. The two leaders, both influential in the district’s politics, traded accusations as they sought to cement their positions ahead of the 2026 elections.
While addressing party supporters, Bahati, who is also the MP for Ndorwa West, accused Baryayanga of causing division within NRM. He went further to disown him, claiming he is not even a registered party member.
“You are not officially part of NRM, yet you are busy moving around creating confusion. The Secretary General is here, and you are doing things the wrong way. This is not how NRM operates,” Bahati said.
He reminded party members of NRM’s four core principles of, Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic Transformation, and Democracy, stressing that discipline and unity were key to the party’s survival.
[You cannot wake up and become a bishop without first being baptized]. “Leadership in NRM is for those who have been tested and have proven themselves,” he added.
At the same event, Bahati was endorsed as the sole candidate for the position of Kabale District NRM Chairman.
However, Enock Barata, the NRM Secretariat’s Director of Legal Affairs, who represented the Secretary General, Richard Todwong as the chief guest, clarified that a formal election process would still take place.
Baryayanga was quick to reject Bahati’s endorsement, describing it as a political stunt.
“This so-called endorsement did not follow party structures. The District Executive Committee was not involved, meaning it is just an announcement made in the middle of celebrations,” he said.
He blamed Bahati for NRM’s loss of political ground in Kabale, where opposition and independent candidates have taken over most leadership positions. Currently, only two of the district’s MPs belong to NRM.
“NRM has lost its strength in Kabale because Bahati wants to control everything. Instead of bringing members together, he has created divisions, making the opposition stronger. I want to bring fairness and restore NRM’s influence,” Baryayanga declared.
With both Bahati and Baryayanga determined to take control of NRM in Kabale, political tensions are expected to rise.
As the 2026 elections draw closer, the battle for supremacy within the party is only beginning. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
