By BM
In what many political observers are calling the end of an era, longtime Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament Theodore Ssekikubo has been officially removed from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership following a protracted and contentious battle over the party’s 2025 primary election results.
Ssekikubo, who has represented Lwemiyaga for five terms (25years), faced a stunning defeat in the July 17 NRM primaries to retired Brigadier General Emmanuel Rwashande.
The election was fiercely contested, drawing five candidates, including former State Minister for Animal Husbandry Joy Kafula Kabatsi and Edmond Bwire.
The official results declared Rwashande the winner with 16,358 votes (54.3%), while Ssekikubo trailed with 8,702 votes (28.92%). Kabatsi garnered 471 votes, Edmond Bwire 960, and Jacob Kato came last with 11 votes.
Despite Ssekikubo’s long-standing incumbency and strong local influence, he won only one out of five sub-counties in the constituency, signaling a significant shift in voter sentiment.
Following the primaries, Ssekikubo and Kabatsi jointly filed petitions challenging the results, alleging serious irregularities including violence, voter intimidation, military interference, and result manipulation.
They claimed that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), under the command of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, had orchestrated a campaign of intimidation and disruption, including a targeted communication blackout caused by vandalized telecom masts.
Ssekikubo went further, alleging that Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools were used to alter security footage and fabricate evidence to mislead political leadership.
He also disclosed being shot at during the election violence a second such incident in his political career.
The National Resistance Movement Elections Disputes Tribunal, chaired by Counsel John Musiime, took up the case amid heightened political tension.
The tribunal is handling over 250 petitions from across the country following President Yoweri Museveni’s stern directive to urgently address allegations of voter bribery, ballot stuffing, and result tampering that plagued the July primaries.
Hearings have been divided regionally to manage the heavy caseload, with parties urged to strictly adhere to scheduled dates or face dismissal of their petitions.
Despite the serious allegations, the tribunal found no conclusive evidence to annul the Lwemiyaga results, dismissing Ssekikubo’s claims and upholding Brigadier General Rwashande’s win.
Political analysts see this decision as a clear message from the NRM leadership, signaling a shift towards renewal and a crackdown on internal dissent.
Ssekikubo’s removal marks a turning point for the party as younger, more military-aligned leaders gain influence, reflecting broader changes ahead of the 2026 general elections.
President Museveni’s intervention in the post-primary crisis marked by arrests of election registrars accused of manipulating results in multiple districts has underscored the urgency for internal reform.
The Lwemiyaga saga, one of the most high-profile cases, now stands as a symbol of this turbulent period in the party’s history.
For Theodore Ssekikubo, whose political career has been marked by fierce battles and controversy, this defeat and dismissal from party leadership represent a significant and possibly final chapter.
As Brigadier General Rwashande prepares to take the mantle, the NRM appears set to move forward, aiming to restore stability and confidence among its supporters.
