The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has announced it will not hold internal primaries to select its candidate for the upcoming Kawempe North by-election.
This decision was revealed by the NRM chairman for Kampala, who also serves as the Kampala Division Mayor, Salim Uhuru.
Uhuru explained that the party chairperson and President Museveni, directed party officials to ensure that only one NRM candidate is fronted.
The directive aims to prevent internal disagreements that often lead to party members running as independents, a scenario the NRM believes has cost them several seats in past elections.
“We want to take over Kampala,” Uhuru said during an interview with The Nile Post. “There will be no excuses for independents this time. We want one candidate to ensure unity and focus in this by-election.”
The NRM has faced challenges in previous elections where disputes arising from its primaries led disgruntled candidates to run as independents, dividing the party's vote and paving the way for opponents. Uhuru emphasised that the party is keen on avoiding similar mistakes.
“This by-election is a testing ground for us. We want to ensure that we capture this seat without any internal conflicts,” he stated.
The decision comes as the Electoral Commission sets the by-election roadmap, with candidate nominations scheduled for February 26 and 27. The polls will be held on March 13.
Uhuru also pointed out that the NRM has heavily invested in Kawempe North through government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga programs. He expressed hope that the community would reciprocate by supporting the party’s candidate.
“We have delivered numerous programs to the people of Kawempe North. It’s time for the community to give back to the NRM,” he added.
The Kawempe North parliamentary seat fell vacant earlier this month following the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya, who had represented the constituency since 2021.