By Aggrey Baba
Longtime NRM member Mary Karooro Okurut has advised the Kyadondo based party to approach the coming internal elections with caution, arguing that dialogue and consensus (where possible) can save the party from the bitter divisions that have torn apart some opposition parties.
Her views come as political activity begins to pick up ahead of the party’s national delegates’ conference, with several aspirants already expressing interest in seats on the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC).
Some have printed campaign posters and are actively appearing on radio and TV stations, long before the official nomination process begins.
According to Karooro, while democracy allows anyone to contest for leadership positions, there are moments when party leaders must assess the situation and determine whether going into full-blown elections could threaten internal cohesion.
She noted that in areas where NRM’s unity appears fragile, leaders should not hesitate to invite aspirants for dialogue. These discussions, she said, should be guided by goodwill and mutual respect (not coercion or manipulation).
She stressed that when consensus is reached genuinely, and some aspirants voluntarily step down, it does not undermine democracy but instead strengthens the party’s unity.
“Where harmony is threatened, there’s no harm in calling opponents to the table. If people agree among themselves to step aside, it should be welcomed, not dismissed as weakness,” she argued in a reflection on recent political developments.
The former minister pointed to examples from within NRM, where such internal peace talks have in the past helped avoid unnecessary rivalries, particularly at district and parliamentary levels.
Aspirants have occasionally stepped down, not because they were forced, but because they understood that the party’s interests were bigger than individual ambition.
Her appeal comes at a time when tensions are already visible in the national political space, particularly within parties like the Democratic Party (DP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Karooro recalled how DP’s recently concluded leadership race ended in chaos, with Norbert Mao re-elected as party president in an election challenged by fellow aspirants Michael Lulume Bayiga and Eng. Richard Sebamala.
The two have since vowed not to recognise the justice minister’s presidency, drawing parallels with past conflicts under Paul Kawanga Semwogerere’s leadership, when lawyer Francis Bwengye formed a parallel faction.
Karooro also referred to the FDC saga, where misunderstandings led to a fallout with senior members like Erias Lukwago, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Ingrid Turinawe, Salam Musumba who later joined Dr. Kiiza Besigye (now incarcerated), and founded the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). These developments, she warned, are signs of what can go wrong when political parties fail to manage internal competition.
“NRM is not made of stones. We’re all human. Ambition is natural, but if it’s not handled carefully, even strong parties can begin to shake,” she said.
Several high-level positions in NRM are expected to attract interest. Haji Moses Kigongo, the first national vice-chairman, and Rebecca Kadaga, the second national vice-chairperson representing women, are likely to face challengers, as Speaker Anita Annet Among, is reportedly seeking nomination to a top seat on the executive, kicking Kadaga out.
Karooro acknowledged that not every position can be decided through consensus, but where early discussions can prevent avoidable splits, leaders should act, because a stitch in time saves nine.
She warned that failure to act early could see the party consumed by unnecessary wrangles, some of which are already beginning to surface in lower structures.
“The CEC is not the only place where tempers are rising. Even in the regions, the tension is quietly building,” she added.
Though best known in public as a former Minister of Information and National Guidance, Karooro’s political roots run deep.
She served as Bushenyi District Woman MP for several terms and has been part of NRM since its early days. A teacher by profession, and one of Uganda’s earliest female novelists, Karooro holds a master’s degree in literature and has spent much of her career advocating for women in leadership.
Her time in government includes stints as Minister for Gender, Minister for Security, and later as Minister in Charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Her long tenure in politics, coupled with her academic background, has made her one of the most reflective voices in Uganda’s political establishment.
She is known for her calm temperament, preference for dialogue over confrontation, and for championing the idea that political leadership is about service, not position.
In her latest remarks, she seemed to lean heavily on that philosophy, urging the NRM to choose dialogue over blind competition.
