Kampala, Uganda – There was drama at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) headquarters in Kampala today after NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, turned away a man identified as Briton Kiwanuka, who had shown up to pick nomination forms for the party’s top seat of National Chairperson, currently occupied by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The incident unfolded mid-morning as curious party supporters and media personnel looked on, many visibly stunned by Kiwanuka’s audacity to challenge the 40-year grip of Uganda’s longest-serving leader.
Dr. Odoi, known for his fiery and often unapologetic style, informed the aspirant that nomination forms for the party’s top leadership position would only be available on Friday and strictly before midday.
“You cannot just walk in and demand forms to contest for the National Chairperson position,” Odoi told reporters shortly after the incident.
“There is a process. Forms for this seat come with security features and clearance protocols. This is not a joke.”
He emphasized that every aspirant must undergo strict security clearance, and the forms issued will bear authentication marks to prevent duplication or manipulation, an apparent move to reinforce procedural integrity within the party’s internal electoral process.
Very little is known publicly about Kiwanuka, and his sudden appearance has sparked curiosity, mockery, and debate across social media platforms. Described by onlookers as calm but determined, Kiwanuka made no public statement but appeared visibly disappointed after being asked to return later in the week.
In an electoral environment often dominated by predictable candidates and tight party controls, Kiwanuka’s move to express interest in contesting for the NRM National Chairperson slot, a position that automatically makes one the party’s presumptive presidential candidate, is being seen as both bold and unorthodox.
President Museveni, who has held the position of NRM National Chairperson since the party’s founding. Museveni’s long reign within the party and the country at large has often gone unchallenged, with internal contestation being almost unheard of.
However, today’s events underscore growing interest, even if symbolic, within Uganda’s evolving political climate, where younger or lesser-known voices are beginning to step forward, even within ruling party structures.
While Kiwanuka’s attempt may not rattle the establishment, it raises serious questions about openness, transparency, and democracy within party frameworks. Can anyone, regardless of rank or profile, truly challenge the entrenched powers in Uganda’s dominant political party?
The NRM Secretariat has remained tight-lipped about Kiwanuka’s political background, but insiders say this rare incident has caused murmurs within the corridors of Kyadondo Road.
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