Retired Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, former intelligence chief and 2021 presidential candidate, has reignited his political ambitions with a bid for the Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament seat, declaring the upcoming election a “war” he is prepared to support and win.
Speaking during an appearance on a local radio station, Tumukunde, who is contesting under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, warned against any attempts to rig the vote and made a provocative statement regarding his capacity for resistance.
“I want to assure my supporters that this election is a big war. If anyone tries to rig my votes, I urge my supporters to remain calm, but it will be a big war. I have the capacity to cause and facilitate a war. A big disease needs strong medicine,” he declared.
Tumukunde’s remarks come on the heels of a contentious loss to Security Minister Rtd. Maj. Gen. Jim Katugugu Muhwezi in the race for Rukungiri District NRM Chairperson, a defeat he rejected, citing gross irregularities and violations of both Uganda’s Constitution and military law.
He accused the NRM District Registrar, Jackson Mugarura, of being a serving intelligence officer with the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), which he claims compromised the integrity of the election.
Tumukunde invoked Section 99 of the UPDF Act (2005), which bars serving officers from partisan politics, and Article 208(2) of the Constitution, which mandates that the military remain nonpartisan and under civilian control.
He also cited a 2024 Court of Appeal ruling that nullified Capt. Yuventine Omara’s election as Abim District Chairperson on similar grounds.
Following his fallout in the district NRM leadership contest, Tumukunde swiftly picked nomination forms for the Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary race, signaling a strategic shift rather than a retreat from politics.
“This is not about stepping down, it’s about adapting to the moment,” Tumukunde told journalists at the NRM headquarters in Kampala. “Sometimes national change begins with local presence. That’s why I am returning to Parliament.”
Tumukunde, a former spymaster once seen as a reformist and vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s extended rule, described his latest political move as a tactical recalibration in response to the evolving political landscape.
His decision has stirred the political waters in Rukungiri, a district known for its strong opposition leanings and for producing high-profile figures such as Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Political analysts suggest Tumukunde’s re-entry into local politics could be aimed at building a grassroots foundation for future national ambitions, especially with the 2026 general elections on the horizon.
In the 2021 general election, Tumukunde ran for president under the “Renewed Uganda” platform, focusing on security sector reforms, economic revival, and the restoration of constitutional order.
Though he did not perform strongly in the final vote tally, his campaign stood out for its bold, insider critique of the Museveni regime.
Observers note that Tumukunde’s return to elective politics may be shaped by several factors: the tight constraints of Uganda’s political system, the marginal space for independents, and the challenges of building a political movement outside existing structures.
Rukungiri, a historical opposition bastion, poses a formidable challenge for any NRM candidate. Tumukunde is expected to face stiff competition, particularly from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), which still commands strong grassroots support in the area.
Nonetheless, he remains defiant and confident: “I am not afraid of competing with anyone. Let the people of Rukungiri decide,” he said.
If successful, Tumukunde would return to Parliament not as an army representative, as he once was, but as an elected civilian leader, marking a new chapter in his political journey.
