The political ground in Bungokho Central is shifting fast, following a dramatic upset that saw the area’s MP and Bugisu Parliamentary Group chair, Richard Wanda, suffer a bruising defeat in the NRM parish structure elections.
Wanda garnered a measly three votes against 17 for little-known farmer Michael Wopo in Mawawa Parish, Nabumali Town Council.
The loss has sent ripples through Mbale’s political establishment, fuelling speculation that Wanda’s influence within the NRM is on the wane and raising questions about his prospects of retaining the party flag ahead of the 2026 general elections.
At the heart of the growing unease is an intensifying rivalry between Wanda and the Mbale District NRM Chairperson, Muhamood Masaba, who is also widely rumoured to be eyeing the Bungokho Central parliamentary seat.
Wanda, who doubles as the Bugisu coordinator for the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), pointed fingers at Masaba for sabotaging his efforts to mobilise support during the elections.
“I accept the results as a gentleman, but I know how politics works. Someone could be behind this. I was denied access to the voters,” Wanda said, claiming that Masaba confined the 20 eligible voters in his home until evening to block his engagement with them.
Although Wanda downplayed the significance of the poll, saying his goal was to “energise community participation” rather than clinch the parish seat, his political detractors believe otherwise.
Critics like Fredrick Nambafu say the defeat reflects a growing disconnect between Wanda and his grassroots base.
Others believe the real issue is Wanda’s discomfort with Masaba’s firm grip on the district party structure, which could influence the NRM primaries in 2026.
Masaba, however, dismissed the accusations.
“Those are baseless kicks of a dying horse,” he said, in a scathing rebuttal that underscored the depth of the rivalry.
Meanwhile, Wopo, the soft-spoken farmer who toppled the parliamentary group chair, was jubilant in victory.
“This shows leadership doesn’t belong to titles but to the people. I’m ready to serve with humility and focus,” he told a cheering crowd.
The parish-level upset has breathed new life into local debates over representation, accountability, and the future of the NRM in the region.
With Wanda scrambling to secure his footing, Masaba consolidating his influence, and new faces like Wopo capturing grassroots imagination, Bungokho Central is shaping up to be a hotbed of political contest in the run-up to 2026.
The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing is clear: internal power struggles, voter dissatisfaction, and emerging rivalries have transformed the area from a safe seat into one of the most unpredictable battlegrounds in Bugisu sub-region.