National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Kabale District are sharply divided following the nomination of District Party Chairman and State Minister for Trade, David Bahati, as an independent candidate for the Ndorwa West County parliamentary seat in the 2026 general elections.
Bahati, who also serves as the incumbent MP for Ndorwa West, was nominated on Wednesday by District Electoral Commission Registrar Aisha Nansubuga at the Kabale Municipality offices.
Dressed in NRM party colors and accompanied by Kabale Resident District Commissioner Maj. Godfrey Katamba and several district party leaders, Bahati was nominated at exactly 11:20 a.m., choosing a house as his campaign symbol.
Since his nomination, Bahati has held several meetings with local NRM leaders, urging them to campaign for both himself and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ahead of the 2026 elections.
However, his decision has sparked tension and confusion within the party, with some leaders questioning who the legitimate NRM candidate is between Bahati and the party’s official flag bearer, Eliab Naturinda Mporera.
Bahati, who has held the NRM flag for the past 20 years, lost the recent party primaries to Mporera, garnering 23,759 votes (48.3%) against Mporera’s 25,027 votes (50.9%).
Party members have since warned that the standoff could weaken NRM support in Ndorwa West and open room for opposition infiltration ahead of the general elections.
Several NRM flag bearers in Kabale have accused Bahati of misusing party symbols, including the NRM colors and flag, on his campaign materials, saying it misleads voters and undermines party unity. They also allege that he has denied access to district party offices to members perceived as unsupportive of his candidacy.
Nicholas Mucunguzi, the NRM flag bearer for Kamuganguzi Sub-county LCV Councillorship, described Bahati’s conduct as “total disrespect to the party and its flag bearers.”
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Ambrose Akankwasa, the NRM LCIII Chairperson for Kamuganguzi Sub-county, said Bahati’s defiance sets a poor example for young cadres and urged him to either withdraw from the race or openly join the opposition.
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Prize Ampeire, the NRM flag bearer for Katuna Town Council and Kibuga Sub-county, accused Bahati of being “greedy, selfish, and unpatriotic,” questioning why his campaign posters remain at the Kabale NRM offices despite running against the party’s choice.
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Similarly, Nicholas Ntegyerize Burintuza, the NRM flag bearer for Kamuganguzi LCIII Chairperson, said Bahati’s actions have sown division within the district party structure, threatening NRM’s dominance in the area.
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Adam Niwagaba, the NRM flag bearer for Katuna Town Council Youth Councillorship, criticized Bahati for failing to set a positive example, saying he expected him to promote unity rather than “betray the party’s principles.”
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Speaking after his nomination, Bahati said he remains focused on the 2026 elections, assuring that district NRM offices will continue to function normally. He reiterated his dissatisfaction with the NRM primary results, drawing a comparison to President Museveni’s own decision to take action against election injustices during the Obote era.
“I cannot just sit back and watch when I believe the process was unfair,” Bahati said. “Just like President Museveni took a stand during the Obote days, I, too, must stand for what I believe is right.”
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Bahati’s move comes just days after President Museveni warned NRM members who lost in party primaries against contesting as independents, saying such actions fragment the party vote.
While addressing leaders at State Lodge Arua last week, Museveni cited the loss of over 21 NRM parliamentary seats in Buganda during the previous election due to divisions between official flag bearers and independents.
He advised disgruntled aspirants to seek legal redress in case of alleged malpractice and urged them to first establish financial stability before venturing into elective politics.
