NRM’s Kigongo directs Hoima independents to quit race, rally behind party flag bearers
The directive was made during a crucial harmonization meeting in Hoima Oil City, where Al Hajji Kigongo met with both independent candidates and NRM flag bearers from Hoima City and Hoima District.
By George Busiinge
Al Hajji Moses Kigongo, the First National Vice Chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, has issued a stern directive to independent candidates in Hoima who participated in and lost the NRM party primaries: withdraw from the race and rally behind the official party flag bearers.
The directive was made during a crucial harmonization meeting in Hoima Oil City, where Al Hajji Kigongo met with both independent candidates and NRM flag bearers from Hoima City and Hoima District. The meeting aimed to consolidate party unity and strategy ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Kigongo emphasized that independent candidates, by definition, lack a political party affiliation, stating that “they have no political party that they belong to.”
He stressed that essential government services and development projects can only be channeled effectively through official party structures and their elected representatives, not through independents “who do not belong anywhere.”
Several independent candidates, particularly at the Local Council five (LCV), Local Council four (LCIV), and Local Council three (LCIII) levels, have already been nominated by the Uganda Electoral Commission. Those aspiring for Member of Parliament seats are yet to be nominated but have reportedly obtained their nomination forms.
The NRM Vice Chairperson urged the independents to quit the race to prevent vote fragmentation, which he warned could empower the opposition in the general elections. “The independents should quit the race in favor of the NRM flag bearers so that they can be able to defeat the opposition in the general election,” Kigongo stated.
He also issued a strong warning to top party and government officials against funding independent candidates, threatening disciplinary action for those who defy the directive.
Furthermore, Kigongo cautioned local leaders against personalizing government-initiated projects such as roads, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and Emyooga, reminding them that these are collective achievements.
Kigongo reiterated that in any election, there are winners and losers, urging the independents to accept defeat. He highlighted that the party had established a tribunal to address election-related grievances, which he noted had resolved most of the disputes.
He also warned candidates against falsely claiming to be “NRM-leaning,” clarifying that the party does not recognize such affiliations for those contesting against its official candidates.
Echoing Kigongo’s sentiments, Engineer Jonard Asiimwe, the NRM Vice Chairperson for Western Region, questioned the independents’ loyalty. “If the independents are for the party, then there is no reason as to why they are contesting against party flag bearers,” Asiimwe posited.
Vincent Muhumuza Savana, the NRM Party Chairperson for Hoima District and the party’s flag bearer for the District Chairperson Seat, along with Pius Wakabi, the Bugahya County MP and flag bearer, both appealed for unity among party members to ensure a cohesive front.
However, Susan Asiimwe, an independent candidate for the Hoima District Woman Member of Parliament seat, offered a different perspective. She asserted that the NRM party primaries were not free and fair, a factor that compelled her to contest as an independent in the 2026 general elections.
