NRM Retreat in Turmoil as Asiimwe Rejects Shared Room, Demands Better Conditions

Masindi District Woman MP Florence Asiimwe Akiiki has publicly defended her decision to leave the ongoing NRM parliamentary caucus retreat in Kyankwanzi, arguing that the accommodation arrangements fell short of the standards expected for elected national leaders.

Her remarks come after a video widely shared on Tuesday showed the legislator preparing to depart the National Leadership Institute (NALI), visibly dissatisfied after being allocated a shared, dormitory-style room.

The retreat, scheduled from April 7 to April 15, has drawn newly elected NRM Members of Parliament and invited participants to Kyankwanzi. The gathering has also become a focal point for behind-the-scenes lobbying and heightened debate over leadership positions in the upcoming 12th Parliament.

Speaking about the incident, Asiimwe said she had resolved to return to Kampala shortly after learning that her assigned accommodation would involve sharing a room with three other occupants.

“I found Hon Mao at the gate doing a media interview and I told him I was leaving in protest because I was placed in a room of four people. I told him I was going back to Kampala. Mao urged me to wait a while for Hon Todwong but I told him I could not,” she said.

According to her account, she travelled independently to Kyankwanzi on April 7, arriving at approximately 3pm with the expectation of securing more suitable lodging.

However, upon completing registration, she was directed to the Thomas Sankara and Oliver Tambo dormitories, facilities designated for female participants attending the retreat.

Asiimwe said she immediately raised concerns after being informed by an official identified as Aisha that she would be accommodated in a room shared by four individuals, equipped with two bunk beds.

She maintained that such conditions were not appropriate for Members of Parliament, particularly those holding senior responsibilities or vying for high office. Asiimwe is among several figures who have expressed interest in the speakership of the 12th Parliament, a contest that has attracted multiple prominent contenders.

“I told her I wanted a better room because I am a candidate for speaker. She refused, insisting that I had to sleep in a room of four. This room has two bunk beds. Imagine an MP sleeping up in a bunk bed. What if I fall down?” she said.

After what she described as unsuccessful attempts to seek reconsideration, Asiimwe said she opted to leave the venue altogether and return to Kampala.

Beyond her personal experience, the legislator used the incident to highlight what she sees as broader logistical shortcomings at the Kyankwanzi facility. She argued that both Parliament and the ruling party should anticipate and adequately plan for the accommodation needs of lawmakers during such recurring retreats.

“The truth is the situation at Kyankwanzi does not accord respect to elected MPs. An election cycle is five years and they know that every cycle, there has to be a retreat. They need to improve the facilities. MPs need to have good accommodation facilities. The olden days of the bush war are over,” she said.

Her departure has since sparked discussion among political observers and party members, with some viewing the episode as a reflection of deeper tensions surrounding status, expectations, and preparedness within high-level political gatherings. Others have framed it as part of the wider contestation shaping the race for parliamentary leadership ahead of the next legislative term.