Captain Mike Mukula has defended his 16-year tenure as NRM’s Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda, challenging his rivals to ground their campaigns in ideology and institutional understanding rather than populist promises.
In a detailed letter, Mukula responded directly to his opponents—Defence Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth and Dr Musa Lumumba—accusing them of misrepresenting the role and misleading voters about what it entails.
“This office does not come with a government salary; it is not endowed with a development fund, nor does it manage or execute government programs,” Mukula wrote.
“The role is voluntary, ideological, and strategic in nature—meant to offer direction and ideological consistency, not implement government programs or deliver infrastructure.”
The letter, widely circulated among party structures, follows Mukula’s endorsement by ministers and NRM chairpersons from Busoga and Bukedi subregions, who praised his long-standing mobilisation work and commitment to the party’s ideological path.
During the 2021 general elections, Mukula says he mobilised support that helped deliver 97 NRM MPs and 25 party-leaning independents in the east—despite President Museveni’s absence from the campaign trail due to COVID-19.
Oboth, one of his main challengers, has pointed to slow service delivery and youth unemployment in the region—issues Mukula insists lie within the purview of government ministries and not the party’s Central Executive Committee.
“It is a misguided and misleading premise to claim that the absence of tarmac roads in a particular village or the lack of employment among youth is the fault of a regional Vice Chairman,” Mukula wrote.
He called on his challengers to exercise “depth, humility and historical consciousness” and to avoid promising what is beyond the CEC’s mandate.
“Leaders must not exploit the frustrations of vulnerable communities to ascend to party positions by promising that which is outside their scope,” he warned.
“It is both unethical and counterproductive.”
Mukula also outlined the personal sacrifices he has made in the role, from using his own funds for travel to engaging with youth, religious groups and grassroots party structures.
“This service has not been remunerated. I have done so out of commitment to the NRM, its ideology, and the vision of His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.”
The race for the NRM Eastern Vice Chairmanship is expected to intensify in the coming months as the party prepares for the 2026 elections.
Mukula, a former MP, pilot and businessman, said he remains committed to serving the region with “dignity, wisdom and unwavering patriotism.”
