By Aggrey Baba
Political heat in Lwengo is rising beyond boiling point as Bukoto South MP Dr. Twaha Kagabo, a controversial figure who recently abandoned Bobi Wine’s NUP to join the ruling NRM, faces growing pressure from within his new party ranks to step down.
Sources within the NRM in Bukoto South have alleged that former minister Muyanja Mbabaali has officially reported Kagabo to the party chairman Yoweri Museveni, urging him to intervene in the increasingly bitter political standoff.
The development reportedly unfolded during a recent NRM meeting in the constituency, where several senior party members including Nalongo Nabagela openly asked Kagabo to withdraw from the 2026 parliamentary race in favour of Mbabaali.
Kagabo, however, has reportedly told his critics that not even an appeal to God would make him withdraw from the race, let alone pressure from fellow NRM members.
“Whether he reports me to Museveni or to God, I’m not stepping aside,” Kagabo is said to defiantly have declared during a closed-door meeting with local NRM mobilizers.
Kagabo’s political journey has long been full of controversy. Once a vocal critic of the NRM during his days in NUP, Kagabo gained nationwide attention in 2022 when he appeared before Parliament waving bundles of cash he claimed to have received as a bribe.
His actions triggered widespread debate about corruption and the conduct of MPs, with some observers questioning his motives and mental fitness. Though his allegations fizzled out without any convictions, his dramatic behavior left him with a reputation for political theatrics.
His decision to switch camps and embrace the NRM, a party he once vigorously attacked, has raised eyebrows in Lwengo, where party loyalties remain deeply entrenched. Some residents have accused him of opportunism, while others believe he is simply trying to stay politically relevant after falling out with NUP leadership.
Meanwhile, Mbabaali, himself a seasoned political operator, insists that Kagabo should be patient.
“He just joined NRM. Let him first understand the party ideology and discipline,” Mbabaali reportedly said, adding that Kagabo’s open defiance is not in line with NRM values.
Mbabaali, who previously served as state minister for investments, was ejected from Parliament in 2011 over academic qualification issues, but he has remained a strong player in Lwengo politics, reportedly believing his loyalty to Museveni and his long-standing service to the NRM gives him an upper hand in reclaiming the Bukoto South seat.
As the 2026 elections draw closer, Bukoto South is shaping up to be one of the key battlegrounds to watch, with observers warning that unless the internal wrangles are resolved early, the NRM could risk splitting its support base in the constituency.
