Ibanda District Woman Member of Parliament, Jane Bainomugisha, has declared her intention to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2026 general elections, following her defeat in the recent National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries.
Bainomugisha made the announcement after holding a consultative meeting with her political advisors in Kampala, where she reaffirmed her commitment to represent the people of Ibanda despite losing the NRM flag.
In the hotly contested NRM primaries, Jovrine Kaliisa Kyomukama, a former Woman MP and current Deputy National Coordinator for the Parish Development Model (PDM), emerged victorious.
Kyomukama garnered 61,030 votes, representing 70.5%, while Bainomugisha trailed with 22,960 votes, equivalent to 26.54%.
However, Bainomugisha has questioned the credibility of the process that led to her defeat.
“There were several irregularities during the exercise which we have documented. We shall not allow the democratic will of the people to be undermined,” she said.
Bainomugisha’s decision echoes a growing trend among other NRM primary losers in Ibanda who have also announced plans to run independently.
Among them is Xavier Kyoma Akampurira, who lost to Guma Gumisiriza in Ibanda North constituency “I may have lost the flag, but I haven’t lost the people,” said Akampurira. “This election is about service, not symbols.”
Similarly, Godwin Mpairwe and Paulus Mugisha Karekyezi, who lost to John Paul Ninkusima, the incumbent MP for Ibanda South, have declared their independent bids and Innocent Mwine Bakamuhara who lost to Peter Agaba in Ibanda Municipality.
Observers say the rise in independents could reshape the political dynamics in Ibanda as the 2026 elections draw near, especially in constituencies where intra-party tensions have emerged.
Despite the split, Bainomugisha maintains that her campaign will focus on unity, service delivery, and empowering grassroots women.
“Ibanda deserves consistent leadership, not political games. My agenda remains the same: inclusive development and people-first representation,” she emphasised.
The developments set the stage for a potentially dramatic and highly competitive race in Ibanda District, with political loyalties and alliances expected to shift as campaigns gain momentum.