Tensions have escalated within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Mukono District after party members accused the district party leadership of corruption and mismanagement of campaign funds, which they say contributed to the party’s poor performance in the just-concluded parliamentary and local government elections.
The disgruntled members, including several NRM flag bearers who lost in the elections, raised the concerns during a meeting held at Buyuki Village in Nama Sub-county.
They accused the Mukono District NRM chairperson, Harunah Ssemakula, of abandoning candidates at the grassroots during the campaign period and weakening party mobilisation efforts.
According to the members, Ssemakula failed to support party flag bearers financially and materially, stalled key party activities and undermined coordination at lower administrative levels, factors they claim led to losses in key elective positions across the district.
The flag bearers alleged that Ssemakula received funds from the NRM secretariat intended to facilitate campaigns and grassroots mobilisation but did not distribute the money to candidates.
They claimed many party flag bearers received no support before, during or after the elections.
Joseph Wamala Maseruka, a former NRM flagbearer, said corruption within the party leadership denied candidates access to vital campaign resources.
“Money was released to support campaigns, but it never reached the grassroots. Some of us did not receive any support at all,” Maseruka said.
Several members demanded Ssemakula’s resignation, saying they plan to petition the NRM secretariat to investigate the alleged misuse of funds.
They cited unfulfilled promises and continued electoral losses as evidence of failed leadership.
Umar Ssebuyungo, the NRM flag bearer for chairperson of Mukono Central Division, said the party’s performance in the district contradicted national calls for strong grassroots mobilisation.
“In Mukono, we failed to win even a single parliamentary seat. All our candidates lost,” Ssebuyungo said.
In response, Ssemakula dismissed the allegations, saying funds from the party secretariat were allocated only to specific categories of candidates.
He confirmed receiving Shs63 million, which he said was distributed to villages to support mobilisation activities, including facilitation for boda boda transport.
“I received only Shs63 million and equally distributed it to all villages in Mukono for mobilisation,” Ssemakula said.
He added that another amount he received was specifically meant to support parliamentary, mayoral and LC5 candidates, not councillors.
NRM performed poorly in Mukono District, losing all parliamentary seats, while most local government positions were won by opposition candidates.
The only position claimed by the ruling party is the disputed LC5 chairperson seat, after returning officer Emily Amongin declared two winners for the same position—Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Lukooya Mukoome of the NRM.