By Ben Musanje
In a heartfelt and urgent letter to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, former Worker’s MP contestant and NRM flag bearer Joshua Israel Akandwanaho has raised alarms over corruption, moral decay, and the monetization of politics within the National Resistance Movement (NRM), urging the President to intervene personally.
In the letter, Akandwanaho begins by congratulating President Museveni on his decisive re-election victory, securing over 71% of the vote, and praised the NRM for maintaining a majority in Parliament and local government. Yet, he quickly turns to a stark warning, emphasizing that the party and the nation face deep challenges if the issues of corruption and impunity are not addressed.
Drawing from his experience as a former parliamentary candidate for Worker’s MP in the 2026–2031 elections, Akandwanaho said the principles of NRM—nationalism, patriotism, Pan-Africanism, democracy, and socio-economic transformation—remain critically relevant. However, he warned that the “monetization of politics” is undermining these values, teaching young Ugandans that money, rather than competence, determines leadership. He claimed that during the Worker’s MP election, candidates reportedly bought votes at 1.5 million shillings each, leaving capable leaders sidelined and NRM’s performance weakened.
Akandwanaho also expressed alarm at the conduct of recent parliamentary and local government elections, which he said were marred by impunity and corruption, leaving deep societal wounds. He warned that practices such as public seizure of opponents’ victories, Electoral Commission errors, and court interventions to subvert voter will represent a “ticking time bomb” for the nation. He urged President Museveni to lead a process of reconciliation to prevent further divisions.
The former candidate stressed the urgent need for internal party reforms. He called for an “internal audit” of the NRM to tackle infighting, sabotage, and double standards, which he said have demoralized flag bearers and contributed to electoral failures. Many candidates, he noted, are grappling with loans, depression, and discouragement after losing elections, and he appealed to the President to offer personal guidance and comfort to these party members, recalling how he had previously supported defeated candidates in NRM primaries.
Akandwanaho’s letter also emphasized that Uganda, with its abundant natural resources, favorable climate, fertile soils, and peace, should be advancing at “supersonic speed” under strong leadership. Yet corruption, he said, continues to derail development, depriving citizens of good roads, quality healthcare, and education. He insisted that government projects often fail not due to design flaws but because individuals prioritize personal gain over national progress.
The letter called for a deeper fight against corruption, one that goes beyond arrests to instill values such as accountability, integrity, honesty, transparency, and respect for public resources. Akandwanaho argued that the fight against corruption should be as vigorous as the fight against insurgency, emphasizing that moral decay threatens the nation’s prosperity and could invoke divine disfavor if left unchecked.
He concluded by urging President Museveni to lead Uganda in restoring a society grounded in values, morals, integrity, and godliness, warning that silence in the face of wrongdoing allows evil to thrive. Akandwanaho expressed hope that with courage, conviction, and leadership anchored in honesty, Uganda can prosper and see the blessings of God unlike ever before.
The letter, signed by Akandwanaho Joshua Israel as a “NRM Flag Bearer and Former Contestant for Worker’s MP 2026–2031,” calls for urgent attention to party discipline, electoral integrity, and the welfare of committed cadres, highlighting both a personal and national plea for accountability and moral leadership within the ruling party.
