Former Bukoto South legislator Twaha Kagabo has said he was not surprised by the outcome of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) internal processes that saw him fail to secure the party ticket to retain his parliamentary seat, although he acknowledges that there is significant intrigue within the ruling party, similar to other political organisations.
Kagabo made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on Sanyuka Television, where he reflected on his political journey, including his move from the National Unity Platform (NUP) to the NRM and his eventual loss in the 2026 general election.
He entered the 11th Parliament in 2021 on the NUP ticket before later crossing to the ruling NRM, a decision he says came with expectations that were later challenged by internal party realities.
“I became frustrated after joining NRM. I had a different picture, but when I joined, I realized there were some issues that were not proper. That made me disappointed,” he said.
Kagabo added that the internal dynamics within the ruling party were not unique, arguing that similar challenges exist across the political spectrum.
“There is a lot of intrigue in NRM, but just like in the whole field of politics. You need to be very careful, otherwise things can become worse for you. There is a lot of disagreement and the intrigue is high,” Kagabo said.
His political journey in Bukoto South was marked by setbacks, including his failure to secure the NRM party flag ahead of the 2026 elections. After losing in the party primaries, he contested as an independent candidate while still maintaining alignment with the ruling party, a move that heightened political tensions in the constituency.
He eventually lost the parliamentary seat in the January 2026 general election to NUP’s Sawula, ending a turbulent cycle that saw him shift from the opposition to the ruling party, compete in primaries, and later run independently.
Kagabo, however, rejected claims that his defeat was a consequence of his defection from the opposition to the NRM.
He also dismissed suggestions that his earlier criticism of the opposition contributed to his electoral loss, insisting that he was within his rights to express his views.
“Whatever I said about the opposition was not wrong, as long as I said it publicly,” he said.