Kampala, Uganda – In the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) Delegates Conference held at Kololo Independence Grounds, retired Lieutenant Moses Mushabe has been elected National Chairperson of the NRM Veterans League, defeating incumbent Security Minister and retired Major General Jim Muhwezi.
Mushabe, who also serves as NRM chairperson for Isingiro District, secured 1,047 votes against Muhwezi’s 570 votes. The other two contenders, Jackson Walusimbi and Titus Erisa Kiwanuk trailed far behind with 7 and 11 votes, respectively.
Observers described Mushabe’s victory as a major political upset within the ruling party, highlighting shifting allegiances and growing grassroots influence in NRM structures.
The Veterans League, which he now chairs, represents former fighters of the National Resistance Army (NRA) who participated in the 1980s bush war.
Importantly, the chairperson of the League automatically holds a seat on the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).
Political analysts argue that Mushabe’s victory reflects a broader push for new leadership and stronger advocacy for veterans’ welfare.
His campaign centered on improving access to healthcare, expanding economic opportunities, and revitalizing long-neglected support programs for ex-servicemen and women.
Despite his long-standing prominence and current high-profile role as Minister of Security, Gen. Muhwezi was unable to withstand Mushabe’s grassroots-driven momentum. His defeat is being read as a signal of changing power dynamics within the NRM, particularly among the veterans’ constituency.
The Delegates Conference, which is continuing through the week, will decide more key leadership positions within the CEC as the party prepares for the 2026 general elections.
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