The political temperature in Ndorwa East Constituency has begun to rise as five contenders prepare for what promises to be a heated race ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
The seat, currently held by Wilfred Niwagaba, one of the longest-serving legislators in the Kigezi sub-region, has attracted both veteran politicians and ambitious newcomers eager to make their mark.
Incumbent MP Wilfred Niwagaba, who has represented Ndorwa East since 2006, is seeking re-election as an independent candidate. Originally elected on the NRM ticket, Niwagaba later broke ranks with the ruling party and has since maintained his parliamentary seat as an independent.
Renowned for his outspoken advocacy on governance and accountability, Niwagaba is banking on his two decades of experience to retain the constituency’s trust.
His main challenger, Pritazio Begumisa, will fly the NRM flag after winning the party primaries earlier this year. Begumisa, a familiar face in the area’s political circles, has made several attempts at the seat and now stands as the ruling party’s top contender to reclaim it from the independent incumbent.
Also in the contest is Alexander Kyokwejuka, a political newcomer running as an independent. Kyokwejuka’s entry has injected fresh energy into the race, particularly among young voters calling for generational change and new leadership.
Another independent, James Rutanga, who lost to Begumisa in the NRM primaries, has decided to contest as an independent, creating divisions within the ruling party’s support base and potentially altering the traditional voting patterns.
Rounding off the lineup is Elias Sunday, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate. Sunday’s candidacy marks the opposition party’s attempt to extend its political footprint into Kabale District, where the NRM has historically enjoyed dominance.
With a mix of seasoned politicians and emerging voices, the Ndorwa East parliamentary race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in the Kigezi sub-region as voters prepare to elect their next representative to the 12th Parliament.