How Kadaga Is Still Better Than Museveni In Busoga Even After CEC Humiliation

Even out of office, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga continues to command the loyalty of Busoga voters, proving that political power is not only measured by position but also by trust and influence earned over time.

In East Busoga’s Bugiri District, during the opening rallies for MPs after nomination on October 22 and 23, her name echoed through conversations, chants, and campaign speeches. The atmosphere made one thing clear — Kadaga’s fall in the 2025 NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections did not weaken her; if anything, it made her stronger.

Voters repeatedly invoked Kadaga as a symbol of loyalty and regional pride, often lashing out at leaders they say betrayed her. In the Bugiri Woman MP race, NUP’s Rebecca Namumbya and NRM’s Eunice Namatende are the main contenders, facing competition from independent Amina Kadaama, PFF’s Zubeda Namutanda, and FDC’s Angela Kyekwemboi, among others.

Namatende, who previously belonged to Besigye’s FDC, faces resentment from voters who accuse her of siding with NRM leaders that opposed Kadaga.

The bitterness dates back to Kadaga’s bid for NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, when Bukooli Central MP Solomon Silwany, a key mobiliser for current Speaker Anita Among, led a spirited campaign against her. Silwany’s attacks were public and personal — he even mocked Kadaga on a local radio station, claiming Busoga had grown tired of a leader who “does not produce.” Many voters interpreted those remarks as an insult to their region, which only deepened their loyalty toward Kadaga.

During the July 2025 NRM MP primaries, many incumbents and local leaders who had supported Among lost their seats, sending a strong signal that defying Kadaga could carry political consequences. In Bugiri, NRM candidates John Francis Okecho and Eunice Namatende — both seen as close to Silwany — now face similar voter anger.

After their nomination on the 22nd, the two never addressed the public as voters had expected. Their delayed post-nomination rallies sparked speculation. Some locals said they were avoiding the wrath of voters loyal to Kadaga; others claimed the candidates were broke and waiting for the party to release campaign funds. A few insisted they were simply waiting for Silwany to fulfill his promise to bankroll their campaigns.

At the NUP rally held at Bugiri Technical Ground on October 22, where Namumbya and Municipality MP aspirant Egesa Mercerino Mangen were introduced, Kadaga’s name dominated the air. Supporters repeatedly chanted “Kunga Kadaga, kunga,” signaling that allegiance to her transcends party lines. Several speakers praised her contributions to Busoga and scolded leaders who had turned their backs on her.

The following day, at JEEMA president Asuman Basalirwa’s rally in Bugiri Bus Park, Kadaga once again became the central topic. Some voters accused Basalirwa, the incumbent Municipality MP, of being too close to Among. The legislator defended himself, saying his relationships with all Speakers — from Kadaga to Among — were purely professional. Still, his explanation didn’t fully convince the crowd. One chapati seller bluntly asked why Basalirwa distanced himself from Kadaga while working comfortably with Anita Among and President Museveni — leaders perceived by many as having undermined Busoga.

At a recent NRM NEC meeting, Kadaga reportedly warned President Museveni that continued attacks on her could weaken NRM’s support in Busoga. The President openly told her not to overrate her influence, reminding her that she does not “own Busoga.” Yet, on the ground, the devotion of Busoga voters to Kadaga tells a different story.

Even without a formal position, Kadaga continues to shape voter behavior. Across Busoga, she is viewed as a steadfast defender of the region’s interests, while those who opposed her are being judged harshly by the electorate. Her name surfaces in rallies, markets, churches, and taxi parks — proof that her influence still runs deep.

As the 2026 elections draw closer, Rebecca Kadaga remains a decisive force in Busoga politics. She may have lost power in Kampala, but back home, her influence continues to guide voter choices, reminding the nation that real political power is not defined by office — but by loyalty, trust, and the bond a leader builds with her people.