A political wave has swept through Uganda’s Bugisu sub-region, unseating several incumbent Members of Parliament and long-serving party figures in the just-concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries.
Among the most high-profile casualties are former ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu, Irene Muloni, and Michael Welikhe Kafabusa—household names in the region’s political landscape whose defeats have sent shockwaves across eastern Uganda.
Also ousted was former Masaka City Resident City Commissioner Hussein Hudu, who failed to secure a parliamentary ticket despite his administrative background.
Bulambuli and Mbale: A Generational Shift
In Bulambuli District, three out of four incumbent MPs lost their party flag. Elgon County’s Ignatius Mudimi, Bulambuli County’s Isaac Katenya, and Woman MP Irene Muloni were all defeated.
Muloni, a former Minister of Energy and longtime NRM stalwart, had been expected to benefit from her national stature, but the result pointed to growing grassroots discontent.
Mudimi’s defeat is widely linked to his alleged role in the cooperatives war claims compensation scandal, which has dogged several politicians in the region.
Mbale District saw a similarly dramatic shakeup. All three incumbent MPs—Robert Wandwasi (Bungokho South), Richard Wanda (Bungokho Central), and John Faith Magolo (Bungokho North)—lost their bids for re-election.
Michael Welikhe Kafabusa, a former State Minister for Housing who had returned to reclaim Bungokho Central, was also defeated.
Kafabusa, who previously represented the constituency from 1996 to 2011, was beaten by his former protégé, Masaba Muhamood—marking the end of an era for one of Bugisu’s longest-serving parliamentarians.
Mbale City: Wambede Falls, New Faces Rise
In Mbale City, Northern Division MP Seth Wambede was unseated by Umar Nangoli. Wambede’s loss is attributed to limited visibility and perceived weak constituency engagement.
His defeat opens space for new political actors in the urban centre, where issues such as youth unemployment and inadequate service delivery remain pressing.
Also failing to secure the NRM flag was Hussein Hudu, the former Masaka RDC, who had sought to parlay his administrative experience into an elective position.
Manafwa: Iron Sheets Scandal Claims Another
Former Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu, the Woman MP for Manafwa District, failed to retain her party flag.
Her entanglement in the iron sheets scandal and accusations of being disconnected from grassroots issues contributed to her loss.
Also defeated in Manafwa was Christopher Welikhe, the MP for Bubulo West. The outcome suggests growing voter scrutiny of long-serving leaders in a district battling infrastructure gaps and land disputes.
Namisindwa: Gender and Change Collide
In Namisindwa County, incumbent MP Apolo Masika was denied the NRM flag after being defeated by a woman candidate.
His loss signals a hunger for new leadership in a district still grappling with poor roads, limited healthcare, and the underperformance of government programs such as the Parish Development Model.
Bududa: Results Pending, But Storm Clouds Gather
Although final results from Bududa District are still pending, early indications suggest that the trend of voter rejection of incumbents may continue there as well.
Bududa residents have long decried poor disaster response, especially in relation to landslides, and the slow relocation of affected families.
These long-standing grievances are expected to influence the final tally.
Only Four Survive in Entire Sub-Region
In a sub-region that boasts over a dozen constituencies, only four incumbent MPs managed to retain the NRM flag.
The rest were swept aside by political newcomers or returning challengers with renewed grassroots appeal.
The NRM primaries have redrawn the political map of Bugisu. The ousting of veterans like Kitutu, Muloni, Kafabusa, and Mudimi underscores a voter base that is no longer moved by loyalty, past titles, or name recognition.
Instead, there is a clear demand for accountability, visibility, and delivery—especially in areas where government programs have faltered and service delivery remains poor.
As the ruling party prepares for the 2026 general elections, its new flagbearers in Bugisu will face the tough task of bridging the gap between lofty promises and everyday realities.
The bigger challenge for the NRM, however, may lie in reuniting a fractured support base, managing bruised egos, and ensuring that the momentum for change does not translate into opposition gains at the national level.
