At least five aspirants have officially withdrawn from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to contest as independent candidates for various elective positions in Kabale District ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The defections come after several candidates, who had earlier declared their intentions to contest in the NRM primaries, both in person and through social media, reversed their decisions, citing deep reflection and broad consultations.
One of the notable defectors is Alexander Kyokwijuka, a business consultant and resident of Kigarama in Maziba Sub-county. Kyokwijuka has pulled out of the NRM primaries and announced his intention to contest as an independent candidate for the Ndorwa East County Member of Parliament seat.
“After deep reflection and consultation, I have decided to withdraw from the NRM flag bearer race and instead offer myself as an independent candidate for Member of Parliament for Ndorwa East in the forthcoming elections,” Kyokwijuka announced on Friday.
Despite his exit from the party primaries, Kyokwijuka reaffirmed his allegiance to the NRM’s core values and his continued support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“I remain committed to the ideals of my party, the NRM, and continue to offer my unwavering support for President Museveni and the NRM government,” he emphasized.
“My focus remains on the development and empowerment of the people of Ndorwa East and championing service delivery in our constituency.”
So far, Dr. Protazio Begumisa, Counsel Elvis Twenda, and Counsel James Akampumuza Rutanga have picked expression of interest forms from the NRM Electoral Commission offices in Kampala to contest for the Ndorwa East seat.
In Ndorwa West Constituency, another prominent NRM member, Gilbert Matsiko Bigweera, has also declared an independent bid, expressing dissatisfaction with internal party procedures.
Matsiko, a long-time NRM cadre, criticized the party directive barring candidates who lose in primaries from running as independents, calling it “unfair” and “a ploy to rig elections.”
“This directive restricts candidates’ rights and causes division within the party,” said Matsiko. “Uganda’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to seek elective office, regardless of party affiliation.”
He argued that the national Electoral Commission is governed by the Constitution, not party regulations.
Matsiko also alleged that some NRM leaders have rigged primaries in the past to block genuine candidates, many of whom have later reclaimed their mandates by running and winning as independents.
“With such an unfair directive, party bigwigs will continue to manipulate the process, locking out legitimate contenders. This only deepens rifts within the party,” he said.
As a result, Matsiko and his supporters have resolved to leave the NRM and pursue an independent campaign in 2026.
Meanwhile, several candidates have picked expression of interest forms to contest the Ndorwa West MP seat on the NRM ticket, including Counsel Eliab Naturinda Mporera, Edward Mwesigwa, and State Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Industry), Hon. David Bahati.
In the Kabale District Woman MP race, three aspirants, Grace Ankunda Bekunda Bwesigye, Trust Kyomugisha, and Immaculate Kagwa Nyemera, have also abandoned the NRM in favour of independent candidacy.
So far, the incumbent Hon. Catherine Atwakiire Ndamira and Enid Origumisiriza, who have obtained nomination forms from the NRM Electoral Commission to vie for the same seat in 2026.
