By Mulengera Reporters
A disgruntled mobiliser for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Northern Uganda has come out with a detailed account of frustration and financial strain, accusing senior officials in Kyadondo of blocking his efforts to meet party chairman Yoweri Museveni after he convinced a group of opposition candidates to withdraw from the 2026 race.
Moses Ongwec, an NRM cadre from Lango sub-region, says he played a big role in persuading at least 13 candidates affiliated with the National Unity Platform (NUP) to step down from parliamentary and local government races and rally behind NRM candidates.
However, despite what he describes as a major political breakthrough for the ruling party, Ongwec now says he has been abandoned by the very system he worked to strengthen.
He explains that his decision to intervene in the campaigns was driven by fear of rising political tension. As the 2026 election season gained momentum, he says he became seriously disturbed by scenes of violence he watched unfold across the country.
Ongwec cites reports of arrests, beatings and shootings during political activities, saying the developments reminded him of Northern Uganda’s violent past, particularly the insurgency led by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Fearing a return to instability in Lango and the entire northern region, Ongwec says he took it upon himself to directly engage the NUP who had already been nominated by the Electoral Commission (EC).
“I saw the signs of chaos and I remembered what this region has gone through before. I did not want Lango to go back there,” he told Mulengera News during an exclusive interview.
Convincing opposition candidates
According to Ongwec, his efforts resulted in at least eight (8) MP aspirants and five local government candidates agreeing to withdraw from their races.
He says the group reached an understanding before stepping down, including assurances that their campaign expenses (such as nomination fees, posters and mobilisation costs) would be reimbursed.
They also reportedly demanded security guarantees, fearing retaliation from NUP supporters who might view their move as betrayal. Additionally, some of the candidates sought assurances of future employment opportunities should NRM candidates win.
With these commitments in place, Ongwec says he moved to seek official backing from the party leadership to formalise the arrangement.
Frustrated Ongwec says he first contacted the NRM Vice Chairman for Northern Uganda, Hamson Obua, and met him in Acholi sub-region where he was campaigning. He briefed Obua on the developments and requested assistance in securing a meeting with President Museveni so that the defectors could present their position directly.
However, Ongwec says Obua referred him to a UPDF division commander. When he approached the officer, he was reportedly told that it would be inappropriate for the military to get involved in political matters and was redirected back to Obua.
Subsequent attempts to seek help from Obua, he says, yielded little or totally no progress, with the advice being to find his own way to meet the Museveni.
Ongwec then reached out to the NRM Secretary General (SG) Richard Todwong, who referred him to party spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo.
He says he travelled to Hoima to meet Dombo, but the meeting did not go beyond basic facilitation.
“The only thing we got was breakfast,” Ongwec said.
He was later directed back to Todwong and advised to wait in Hoima for further communication. Ongwec says he and the group stayed in a hotel for two weeks waiting for a response, incurring additional costs.
Eventually, he says Todwong rang Ongwec and instructed him to return to Kampala, but even after meeting other officials in Kampala, no arrangement was made for him to meet the President.
Stranded and in debt
Throughout this period, Ongwec says the 13 defectors remained under his care, unable to return home due to fears for their safety. He describes describes a situation where the group has been moving from place to place, relying on borrowed funds for accommodation and upkeep.
“I had to borrow money to keep them safe. Now I am in debt, and they are demanding what we agreed,” he said, adding that the candidates are now pressing for reimbursement of their campaign expenses, as initially agreed, placing him under increasing pressure.
Ongwec also accuses Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa of taking credit for his efforts, alleging that during a campaign rally in Western Uganda, Tayebwa presented four (4) of the defectors as people he had personally convinced to join the yellow bus.
According to Ongwec, President Museveni publicly praised Tayebwa for the move, unaware of who had actually facilitated the defections.
“That was my work, but it was taken and presented as someone else’s achievement,” Ongwec said.
Now facing mounting debts and growing demands from the defectors, Ongwec says his only request is to meet the President and personally explain the situation.
He maintains that his actions were driven by a desire to preserve peace and stability in Northern Uganda, but says the lack of support from party leadership has left him exposed and struggling.
“I only want to meet the President and tell him what happened,” he said. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
