“Kadaga Enough Of Your Entitlement In NRM” Museveni Rants As Old Guard Is Swept Out – Praises Rising Stars in CEC Shakeup

A storm has swept through the National Resistance Movement’s top leadership ranks following a tense and consequential National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at State House last week. The NEC gathering culminated in a dramatic National Delegates’ Conference at Kololo Independence Grounds, where long-standing party stalwarts were shown the door in a Central Executive Committee (CEC) election that has reshaped the NRM’s inner core.

In an outcome that many observers had anticipated—but few old guards hoped for—all the veteran members of the powerful CEC, except for President Yoweri Museveni and Moses Kigongo, were overwhelmingly voted out. Museveni retained his position as party chairperson, while Kigongo was spared from contest, staying on as 1st National Vice Chairperson unopposed.

The rest of the old guard, however, found no such luck. From every corner of the country, new faces emerged triumphant, reflecting a shifting tide within the party’s grassroots. Notably, the Central and Eastern region vice chairpersons—Godfrey Kiwanda and Capt. Mike Mukula—opted to withdraw from the race at the last minute, reportedly after sensing the writing on the wall. Their exits spared them the embarrassment of what many believed would have been humiliating defeats.

The only exceptions to competitive elections were in the Northern and Karamoja regions, where the vice chairpersons passed away in 2022 and 2024 respectively. These vacant positions, however, did not dull the momentum of change felt across the party.

But it was the showdown between sitting Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga that became the most talked-about contest of the conference. The two clashed in a high-stakes battle for the position of 2nd National Vice Chairperson (Female)—a contest that ended in a crushing landslide victory for Among.

Kadaga’s Plea to Museveni Falls on Deaf Ears

In the days leading up to the conference, Kadaga, a long-time loyalist of the NRM and veteran in both Parliament and the CEC, attempted to persuade President Museveni to spare her the humiliation of a head-to-head contest. In private conversations, she reminded the president of her unwavering service to the party over the years—citing her “diligence, commitment, and loyalty” as reasons why she should be allowed to retain her seat uncontested, just like Kigongo.

Kadaga also pointed to the party’s internal guidelines, arguing that a candidate must have actively served the party in the last 10 years to be eligible for such a senior position. She questioned why this requirement was being overlooked in favor of Among, whom she claimed did not meet the criteria.

Despite her appeals, the party chairperson did not intervene, and the race proceeded as scheduled.

Bribery, Intimidation Alleged as Kadaga Suffers Crushing Defeat

During her speech to delegates before voting began, Kadaga didn’t hold back. She decried what she described as rampant voter bribery and intimidation, which she claimed had reached “unprecedented levels.” She alleged that one of the candidates had distributed Shs 300,000, a smartphone, and a tablet to each delegate in exchange for votes—a clear warning, she said, that if such practices were not checked, the party risked falling into the wrong hands.

“These vices must be curbed if we are to protect the soul of this party,” Kadaga warned.

Despite raising these concerns, her protestations went unaddressed. When the final tally was announced, the results were staggering: Kadaga secured only 900 votes, while Anita Among swept a commanding 11,680 votes—cementing her dominance and leaving Kadaga with yet another political bruise.

Kadaga’s Legacy and Museveni’s Response

Rebecca Kadaga’s political resume reads like a chronicle of the NRM’s key moments over the past two decades. As Deputy Speaker, she presided over the controversial removal of presidential term limits in 2005. Later, as Speaker of Parliament, she again steered the House through another divisive constitutional amendment that scrapped the presidential age limit—moves that effectively extended Museveni’s grip on power.

Yet, that legacy counted for little in the recent CEC elections. With the results now in the rearview mirror, and as the old guard attempts to regroup, President Museveni has broken his silence, issuing a sharp rebuke to those who lost—singling out Kadaga in particular.

In a candid statement posted to his official social media platforms, Museveni did not mince words. He accused the old guard of growing complacent and failing to stay connected to the people they claimed to represent.

“If the old guards had worked for the people,” Museveni wrote, “the newcomers wouldn’t have outshone them the way Anita Among outshone Kadaga, the way Echodu outshone Mukula, the same way Jonard Asiimwe outshone Chris Baryomunsi and all those who lost.”

The president also addressed Kadaga’s complaint about the party guidelines regarding eligibility based on length of service. He categorically denied the existence of such a requirement, asserting that even if it did exist, it would have been a mistake.

“During the NEC conference, the NRM old debate about the equality of members—old and new—came up again. Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga brought up the issue of longevity of membership in the NRM. We had actually addressed this issue long ago. I asked the lawyers to check whether there was a minimum time required for this or that office. Their answer was: no such guideline exists,” Museveni stated.

“However, even if there was such a provision in the guidelines, it would have been mistaken. The way I explained this many years ago…” he added.

His remarks, while directed at Kadaga’s concerns, sent a broader message: the NRM is no longer a haven for seniority or entitlement. Performance, loyalty from the grassroots, and relevance are the new benchmarks.

A New Era Begins

With the old guard sidelined and new faces taking up strategic positions within the Central Executive Committee, the NRM appears poised for a generational shift. Whether this translates into policy reforms, party discipline, or fresh approaches to governance remains to be seen.

For now, one thing is certain: the winds of change have swept through Kololo—and for party veterans like Rebecca Kadaga, it’s a moment of reckoning.