By Flavia Ajok
Kabakumba Labwoni Masiko, the former Masindi District Woman MP, has been declared winner of the hotly contested Masindi National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party Chairperson race. Hundreds of NRM delegates gathered at Masindi Stadium to participate in the voting exercise.
Kabakumba, a former Minister for the Presidency, contested the seat against John Karuhanga. She garnered 401 votes, while Karuhanga polled 226 votes. Moses Ogwang, the NRM Party Registrar, immediately declared Kabakumba the winner, noting that the entire voting process was conducted freely and fairly.
Speaking shortly after her victory, Kabakumba pledged to unite NRM party members and mobilise support to ensure victory in all seats in the 2026 general elections. She urged supporters to embrace teamwork and hard work to fight poverty at the household level.
In Buliisa District, Allan Atugonza, the Buliisa County Member of Parliament, was elected District NRM Chairperson after defeating Moses Businge. Atugonza secured 260 votes, while Businge received 77 votes. In Kikuube District, Francis Twinomujuni Kazini, the Buhaguzi County MP, emerged winner of the NRM Chairperson race. He beat Julius Bigirwa Junjura and Stilson Muhwezi, polling 170 votes.
Muhwezi came second with 69 votes, and Junjura followed with 20 votes. The elections were presided over by the Kikuube NRM Registrar, Pascal Musuuga. In Kagadi District, businessman Mpoza Karungi Karukana was declared winner of the NRM Chairperson seat after defeating incumbent Omukwenda Ali Mulumba. Karukana secured 1,026 votes, while Mulumba managed 172.
John Mikisa, the NRM Registrar for Kagadi, announced Karukana’s victory at Kagadi Secondary School, where the voting took place under heavy security deployment. In Hoima City, Jonard Asiimwe went unopposed to become the NRM Party Chairperson.
In Kakumiro District, State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama also went unopposed after his rival Fred Mwesigwa withdrew from the race at the last minute. The NRM Electoral Commission postponed elections in the Bunyoro sub-region from Friday, May 23, to Tuesday, May 27, 2025, due to President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to the area last week.
In Hoima City, it was a competitive electoral process during the election that was held at Kitara Secondary School. The polls were filled with dramatic turn of events especially on the position of Chairperson Women’s league.
The two contenders Hellen Azikiya and Betty Miramago polled an equal number of votes, with each garnering five votes for two rounds. This prompted the intervention of the NRM City registrar Sarah Kobusinge who employed an alternative voting method, by asking the contestants to pick labelled papers with numbers one and two in order to determine the winner. Azikiya emerged victorious and was elected chairperson of the women’s league after picking number one.
Eng. Jonard Asiimwe was elected unopposed on the chairperson seat while Beatrice Friday was elected as the Vice Chairperson. Hajji Ramadhan Mugisa, secured the Secretary for Finance seat while Joseph Ssegimba was elected at the party’s Secretary General and Muhamad Kiyimba as the Publicity Secretary.
In the party league elections in the city Bob Nsekanabo was elected as the chairperson workers’ league, Joseph Byesigwa supper as vice person, Patrick Mugabi general secretary, Abubakari Busobozi for finance and Kabagenyi Muhereza publicity secretary.
Dr. Lawrence Bategeka the former MP Hoima Municipality who was elected as Chairperson Elderly league said he will advocate for all elders and those above the age of 80 so that they can benefit from sage money.
Sarah Kobusinge the Hoima NRM City registrar said the elections were peacefully conducted apart from the position of Chairperson women league where the contestants tied with the same number of votes and pressure started mounting but a solution was later provided.
