By Aggrey Baba
With less than four months to go before Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) holds its internal elections, the party is entering a critical phase of political maneuvering.
Behind closed doors, strategies are being drawn, alliances tested, and tensions heightened as key figures prepare for what is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle for influence.
At the center of this contest is the race for NRM’s first national vice-chairperson, a position that veteran politician Moses Kigongo has held for years. However, his long-standing grip on the seat is now facing an aggressive challenge from former city MP
Edward Francis Babu, a senior party member who has vowed not to back down despite internal pressure.
Babu is strongly opposed to a proposal that, in his view, seeks to edge out experienced party leaders in favor of a new wave of politicians aligned with the Patriotic League of Uganfa (PLU).
“We are not looking for jobs; we are looking for good leaders,” he asserted, dismissing what he describes as an undemocratic attempt to restructure the party’s leadership.
He is no stranger to political battles, and this time, he insists he will not be sidelined. “I am contesting, and I will stand against anyone. I don’t fear elections. You go in to win or lose, but I won’t be pressured to step down like before,” he declared defiantly.
Babu’s stance has set the stage for a fierce showdown, one that will test the strength of the party’s traditional leadership against a push for generational change.
As NRM heads toward these pivotal elections, the outcome of this power struggle could redefine the party’s future and signal a shift in Uganda’s political landscape.
