By Aggrey Baba
Mr. Bulegeya Rogers, of Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), has been declared the new National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson, winning unopposed.
This is not just a simple victory for Rogers but a clear sign that PLU, the political league led by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is rapidly gaining ground inside Uganda’s ruling party.
This comes after Muhoozi’s announcement in September 2024 that he would not run for president in 2026, shocking many who had hoped he would succeed his father, President Yoweri Museveni.
Instead, Muhoozi endorsed the longest Uganda’s serving President for another term and urged all PLU members to contest for political positions under the NRM umbrella.
The strategy is now clear, that if you cannot lead from the top yet, lead from within.
In Masaka City, Bulegeya Rogers walked into the chairmanship without opposition, a sign that PLU’s influence is both respected and strong.
Across the country, PLU members are actively vying for top NRM positions, and in Buganda, Minister Haruna Kasolo is campaigning hard to replace Godfrey Kiwanda as the NRM Vice Chairperson.
In Western Uganda, Michael Mawanda is contesting for regional leadership, just like many other PLU-aligned candidates are putting their names forward in district and city-level party elections.
According to political analysts, this coordinated effort shows PLU’s intention is not just to participate in the ruling party but to take over its leadership structures in preparation for the future, saying Muhoozi’s decision not to run was a surprise but the move to embed PLU members deeply in the NRM means they are building a power base quietly but effectively.
Some critics say this consolidation threatens Uganda’s political balance as certain MPs condemned the CDF’S claim that no civilian will succeed his father as unconstitutional and warned against the militarization of politics. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
