By Aggrey Baba
A peaceful church commissioning ceremony in Sembabule District took a chaotic turn on Sunday when Lwemiyaga County MP, Ho. Theodore Ssekikubo, nearly exchanged blows with former Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Sam Kutesa, during an event attended by President Yoweri Museveni.
The incident occurred at the inauguration of All Saints Church, a 1,200-seat facility constructed by Kutesa in collaboration with Tororo Cement Limited.
Museveni officiated the ceremony, praising Kutesa for his contributions to the community and recognizing the church as a testament to faith and resilience.
Tensions flared when Kutesa invited a colleague to address the gathering, prompting MP Ssekikubo to come along, attempting to grab the microphone. Kutesa pushed him away, leading to a brief physical altercation.
Security personnel, believed to be from the President’s security detail, intervened and shamingly threw Ssekikubo out of the venue.
Speaking to the press after the incident, the legislator expressed his frustration over being sidelined during the event, claiming that despite representing a neighboring constituency, he was not notified of the president’s visit and was not afforded the opportunity to address issues affecting his constituents.
Ssekikubo alleged that the incident was orchestrated by his political rival, retired Brigadier General Emmanuel Rwashande, who is also vying for the Lwemiyaga parliamentary seat.
Ssekikubo further accused Rwashande of involvement in land grabbing activities, specifically citing the displacement of people from Kyeyagoire, Kigando, and Kilowooza villages.
He claimed that Rwashande’s actions had caused immense suffering for the local communities, and he called on the government to investigate these allegations. “A person who chases innocent citizens off their land cannot be a leader,” Ssekikubo remarked, emphasizing the moral failings of his opponent.
The rivalry between Ssekikubo and Rwashande has been escalating, with both parties accusing each other of undermining their political campaigns. Ssekikubo criticized Rwashande for allegedly deploying military personnel to intimidate voters and suppress opposition ahead of the upcoming NRM primaries.
“There is no need for the army in party elections. We are one family,” Ssekikubo said.
This incident highlights the deepening political divisions within the rulling party as the 2026 general elections approach, with observers suggesting that the it may have broader implications for the NRM’s unity and the conduct of its internal elections, as usual.
As the NRM primaries approach, all eyes will be on how the NRM addresses these internal conflicts and whether such incidents will influence voter sentiment in the upcoming elections. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
