A group of National Resistance Movement (NRM) members in Kalangaalo Sub-county have petitioned the party’s top leadership, accusing Mityana North MP Ssaalongo Muhammad Kibedi Nsegumire of manipulating internal elections to tighten his grip on power ahead of 2026.
The petition, addressed to NRM Vice Chairperson for Buganda region, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, lists 16 grievances. Members allege that Kibedi handpicked electoral officials, financed voter registration, and influenced outcomes to benefit his allies.
“This isn’t about strengthening the party — it’s a takeover,” said Adrian Mugisha, a lead petitioner. “Our MP is controlling who gets elected at grassroots level. That’s not democracy.”
The group has demanded fresh elections in Kalangaalo, supervised by neutral party officials. They also want a reshuffle of all local party registrars, claiming they act on Kibedi’s orders.
The revolt comes as tensions deepen between Kibedi and Kiwanda, the former Mityana North MP who is eyeing a comeback in 2026. Kiwanda, distancing himself from the unrest, said the petition signals discontent within the party.
“If our internal systems are compromised now, we’ll pay the price in 2026,” Kiwanda told NilePost. “This isn’t about me — it’s about fixing a broken process.”
But Kibedi, the only NRM MP left in Mityana, dismissed the accusations. He accused Kiwanda of plotting to destabilize his constituency.
“Kiwanda knows he can’t beat me again, so he’s resorted to sabotage,” Kibedi said. “This isn’t reform — it’s revenge. His camp has repeatedly disrupted elections with violence. They want me out, but I’m not going anywhere.”
The clash echoes the bitter 2021 race, where Kibedi unseated Kiwanda after a bruising campaign marred by internal rifts. Now, as both men prepare for a rematch, the fight has returned to the grassroots.
Analysts warn that the fallout in Mityana could test NRM’s ability to manage dissent and uphold internal democracy ahead of the 2026 polls.
“This is not an isolated power struggle,” said a local political observer. “It’s a sign of deeper fractures that, if ignored, could shake the party’s stability.”
NRM officials are yet to publicly respond to the petition.