A political crisis is brewing in Ntungamo, the home district of First Lady Janet Museveni, who is also the District NRM Chairperson, as frustrated youth and National Resistance Movement (NRM) members are calling on her to intervene following what they describe as the fraudulent nullification of David Aryatuha’s victory in the Nyamukana Town Council LC5 Councillor race.
The controversy centers on the actions of the Ntungamo District NRM Registrar, Maria Mirembe, who is accused of unilaterally revoking Aryatuha’s victory and attempting to declare his rival, Amos Natuhwera, the new winner. This move, which bypassed the party’s official dispute resolution channels, has sparked outrage among supporters who had chosen Aryatuha, a popular youth candidate, by lining up behind him in the primaries.
According to official results, Aryatuha won with 1,284 votes against Natuhwera’s 1,265. Aryatuha was initially issued a declaration form, a testament to his clear victory. However, Mirembe reportedly asked him to return the certificate just two weeks later. This sudden reversal, coupled with allegations of bribery in Kitsyama Village where Mirembe and Natuhwera allegedly offered cash to supporters to change their testimony, has shattered public trust.
In response, Aryatuha’s supporters, including a number of dedicated NRM members, organized a peaceful protest at the party’s offices in Ntungamo Municipality. Their cry for justice was direct and heartfelt, with some openly questioning the party’s credibility.
“We believe our candidate is being stopped because of money,” said 71-year-old Nathan Muhangwa during the protest. “How do you steal an election we voted for by lining up? Isn’t this how opposition starts?”
The protesters’ pleas were met with a heavy-handed police crackdown, allegedly ordered by Mirembe herself, which led to the arrest of at least 30 NRM supporters. The incident is seen as a profound embarrassment for the party, particularly because it occurred in the district chaired by the First Lady.
The youth and NRM members are now appealing directly to Janet Museveni, not only as the First Lady but as the Ntungamo NRM District Chairperson. They are imploring her to use her authority to correct the injustice, uphold the democratic will of the voters, and restore confidence in the NRM party’s internal processes. The petitioners, and the public, are anxiously waiting to see if the First Lady will intervene to honor their petition and rectify the mess created by the district registrar. The outcome of this appeal will likely determine the party’s reputation in Ntungamo and beyond.
Nrm Members further exposes the leadership crisis and alleged incompetence of Maria Mirembe, the NRM District Electoral officer,
This comes immediately after the NRM Electoral Tribunal has ordered fresh MP primary elections in Ntungamo Municipality. The decision came after the tribunal nullified the victory of Yona Musinguzi, citing widespread electoral fraud and violence.
Tribunal’s Ruling Undermines Mirembe’s Authority
The tribunal’s ruling is a direct rebuke of the Ntungamo District NRM Registrar, Maria Mirembe, who was accused of bias and abuse of office. According to the tribunal, Mirembe’s handling of the election led to numerous irregularities, including allowing unverified voters to cast ballots. Evidence submitted by the petitioners—Philip Ankwaasa, Edward Beyendeza, Michael Katureebe, and Eric Nuwagira Kacafu—showed videos of violence instigated by Musinguzi’s supporters, as well as the abduction of a rival’s agent, John Sempiija. The tribunal noted that Mirembe’s office failed to include results from seven polling stations, effectively disenfranchising 9,966 voters. This failure was a key factor in the decision to annul the results and order a re-election in the affected polling stations, including Cell 8.
The repeated allegations of incompetence and favoritism suggest a deeper issue within the district’s NRM leadership, one that the party must address to regain public trust. The First Lady, as the district’s top NRM official, now faces the challenge of correcting the mess.
