With incumbent Josyline Kamateneti out of the running after losing the National Resistance Movement party primaries, the 2026 Ntungamo District Woman MP race has drawn five new contenders promising to advance women’s empowerment, education, and healthcare.
The contest has drawn new opposition and independent candidates, mounting a strong challenge against the ruling NRM’s flag bearer, who recently defeated the incumbent MP in party primaries.
Analysts describe it as one of the most competitive Woman MP races in the district’s recent history.
The contenders include Winnie Twinomujuni of the People’s Front for Freedom, Viola Namanya Buroko of the NRM, Brenda Ankunda Mutesi and Juliet Kindyahamutima, both Independents, and Deborah Namara of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
Each has unveiled a women-centered agenda that emphasizes improved access to healthcare, curbing school dropouts among girls, and expanding business opportunities for women and youth.
“Girls are dropping out of school because they lack basic necessities. A district like Ntungamo should not still be facing such a problem,” said Twinomujuni.
Namara of FDC voiced concern over the cost of living and the impact of poverty on orphans’ education.
“Most orphans can’t afford school fees. It’s too expensive, and they can’t even afford food at home,” she said.
Across the district, many women continue to lament the high cost of healthcare and limited access to medicine in public facilities.
Others decry the mismanagement of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds and the difficulty in obtaining soft loans to boost small enterprises.
“We have our SACCOs, but we are always in need of support,” said a female vendor in Ntungamo town. Another voter complained of deceit in PDM fund distribution: “They took all my money. Someone from the parish promised me funds under PDM but never gave me anything.”
Independent candidate Ankunda said her campaign is focused on economic empowerment. “I will promote youth and women projects by ensuring access to soft loans and affordable finance,” she said.
NRM’s Namanya pledged to rally collective energy for women’s progress.
“We want to build unity and empower women through their projects,” she noted.
Kindyahamutima, also an independent, emphasized infrastructure development as part of her broader vision.
“I want to engineer the very developments this district has always needed — better education, roads, and electricity,” she said.
Political analyst Edward Natamba observed that while the candidates are strong, the Woman MP’s effectiveness in Ntungamo has historically been limited by geography and scope.
“Ntungamo is a big district with 34 sub-counties and 1,033 villages. The Woman MP’s role is broad, and many have failed to deliver because of the district’s vast size,” Natamba said.
As campaigns pick up pace, residents say they will be watching for candidates who not only make promises but demonstrate the capacity to deliver inclusive development across all corners of Ntungamo.
