Why Prime Minister Nabbanja Was Slapped In The Face During NRM Primaries As Her Bodyguards Looked On

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has found herself at the centre of a shocking and embarrassing scene following a violent incident linked to the recently concluded NRM party primaries in Bugangaizi East Constituency.

While attending a high-level United Nations forum in New York, reports from Kampala indicate that Nabbanja was punched in the face during a heated confrontation over the declaration of Onesmus Twinamatsiko as the winner of the parliamentary primary.

The scuffle reportedly broke out as Nabbanja attempted to intervene in the announcement of the results, which her team in Kampala claimed were doctored.

Eyewitnesses say the tension had been building for hours, with accusations of vote tampering flying between rival camps. The moment Nabbanja stepped in to challenge the process, chaos erupted — and in the middle of the fracas, she was reportedly punched in the face, shocking those around her.

The incident has raised serious questions about the Prime Minister’s security and how such a high-ranking government official could be exposed to such humiliation. Critics say this embarrassing moment reflects the deep divisions and violent tendencies within the ruling party’s internal politics.

By press time on Wednesday evening, Nabbanja had not issued any comment on the incident, while her team remained firm that the assault occurred after her intervention in the controversial result announcement.

Instead of eliciting sympathy, the video has triggered a wave of mockery and outrage online, with many Ugandans taking to Twitter to express their reactions. A Twitter user reacted simply with “She was slapped,” while another posted, “NRM egyude omululu Nobuvuyo… prime minister was against giving Banyankole NRM cards in Kakumiro, yet Banyankole had infiltrated the whole district. This brought lots of chaos.”

One Twitter user sarcastically questioned the Prime Minister’s involvement in such local disputes, saying, “But why does a prime minister get involved in such things? Can’t she sit in office and get things done.”

As the video gained traction, many Twitter users used the moment to criticize the ruling NRM party’s conduct and leadership.

One said, “NRM is full of uncivilized and uncouth individuals. They don’t deserve to lead this country,” while another declared, “NRM is a cartel of criminals.” Another Twitter user dismissed the incident, writing, “Banange NRM. You have started to reap what you sowed.”

The event also reignited deep-seated ethnic grievances. Several Twitter users referred to a growing sentiment among some locals that the Banyankole ethnic group is dominating party structures in areas like Kakumiro where they are not indigenous.

“There is a huge Banyankole infiltration in Kakumiro. Residents are wondering why a Munyankole takes over card leadership against the majority of indigenous people,” one Twitter user wrote, adding that this was what caused the scuffle in the first place.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the Prime Minister’s security. Many are asking how a top government official could be exposed to such public humiliation during a political event.