Kanungu
Political defiance is hovering over Kanungu District after several politicians who lost in the NRM primaries rejected the party’s directive to step down and support the winners. Instead, they have vowed to continue their campaigns as Independents in the 2026 general elections. In Kinkizi West Constituency, the Independents — including John Ndungutse Ngaruye, Safari Christopher, Counsel Stephen Turyatunga, and Brian Tibendezana — have insisted on remaining in the race to unseat the incumbent, Hon. James Ruugi Kaberuka, who is serving his second term.
In Kinkizi East Constituency, the list of defiant candidates includes Counsel Godfrey Akampa Akampurira, Sam Arinaitwe Kajojo, Ms. Ruth Karungi Tukahiirwa, and Aggrey Naturinda, all seeking to dethrone the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who has been in Parliament since 2006.
For the Woman Member of Parliament seat, the incumbent Hon. Kinshaba Patience Nkunda — now running as an Independent — and Counsel Esther Majambere Kanyaruharo have also chosen the independent path, aiming to defeat the NRM flagbearer Betty Namara Kataba Mutabazi. For the LC5 Chairperson position, Francis Byamukama, commonly known as Kapeesha, remains firmly in the race as an Independent to challenge the flagbearer Rev. Justus Tibesigwa.
Kanungu flag bearers
The 12 candidates opted to run as Independents despite NRM guidance directing that those who participated in primaries and lost should rally behind the official flagbearers.
It should be remembered that, in an effort to restore unity, on 1st November 2025, the Western Uganda NRM Vice Chairperson Eng. Jornard Asimwe Akiiki convened a meeting at the District Council Hall, bringing together Independents and NRM flagbearers with the aim of negotiating and persuading some Independents to step down in favor of the party’s official candidates.
However, the meeting ended with deeper divisions. Key Independents, including Safari Christopher, Byamukama Francis, and Counsel Akampa Akampurira, openly declined to abandon their independent bids. Some Independents avoided the meeting altogether and sent representatives, signaling continued resistance to aligning with the NRM leadership.
It should also be noted that Ms. Ruth Karungi and Francis Byamukama did not participate in the NRM primaries, although Byamukama had already been declared unopposed as District Councillor for Buhoma Town Council, a position he abandoned to contest for the LC5 seat.
Museveni Campaigns in Kanungu on 26th November 2025
The standoff has sparked concern among NRM loyalists, who fear that the growing number of Independents may split votes and weaken the party’s chances in the upcoming polls.
The Independents, however, maintain that they are responding to the will of the electorate and insist they will proceed with their campaigns to challenge the party flagbearers at the ballot.
When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni campaigned in Kanungu District on November 26th, it was widely expected that some NRM Independents would respect the Party Chairman, show remorse, and step down—but all of them remained defiant.
In an unexpected turn, it was the National Unity Platform District Woman MP candidate, Ms. Zaida Akandinda, who stepped forward and announced before the President that she had decided to step down due to little support for NUP in Kanungu and would now support the NRM.
Torch Media Africa
