Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Ms Persis Namuganza, together with First Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rebecca Kadaga, have commented on the defeat of Members of Parliament allied to Speaker Anita Among in the Busoga sub-region.
Ms Namuganza, who retained her Bukono constituency seat as an independent with 15,692 votes, narrowly defeating ruling NRM party candidate Emmanuel Katoko, who garnered 14,431 votes, said the losses reflect the political strength of Kadaga and the impact of factional battles between her team and Among’s allies.
‘Among has been trying to unseat me from Bukono, but I defeated her. It is therefore no surprise that Among’s MPs, who were once allies of Ms Kadaga and later fell out with Among, have been defeated,’ Ms Namuganza told journalists while preparing for her thanksgiving ceremony on Tuesday.
Ms Among is married to Hashim Moses Magoga, Member of Parliament for Budiope West in Buyende District, where he was elected unopposed.
Local residents echoed Namuganza’s observations, noting that the rivalry between Mama Kadaga and Team Mulamu, referring to Among’s faction influenced outcomes.
‘It is unfortunate that their factional battles have caused people to vote for incompetent leaders. We hope they reconcile before the 2031 elections and work for Busoga,’ said Mr Mukubo Waiswa, a Namutumba resident.
Ms Namuganza added that MPs who turned against Ms Kadaga had ‘written their political obituary, in Busoga, lacking the grassroots support necessary to reclaim their seats.’
‘Among had built a small clique of MPs in Busoga to fight Ms Kadaga, disorganizing the sub-region and stalling development programs,’ she said.
Speaking to newly elected MPs from Busoga in Jinja City on Sunday, Ms Kadaga thanked voters for removing “divisive politicians.”
‘Regarding the infighting in Busoga, I thank the Basoga people. They have seen the truth and chased away the fighters. Those who lost in party primaries and ran as independents were also defeated. The voters have given them their political farewell,’ she said.
Ms Namuganza and Ms Kadaga refused to attend President Museveni’s campaign rally in Iganga, organized by Speaker Among. Their absence prompted the President to intervene, questioning why the two leaders missed such an important event.
Museveni noted that ongoing factional fighting had slowed development in Busoga and urged humility.
‘I ask you to be humble. If I was not humble, I would not have managed Uganda. Leaders must work together so that our people can come out of poverty,’ the president said.
During NRM Central Executive Committee elections, Busoga MPs split along factional lines, with some backing Speaker Among and others supporting Ms Kadaga.
The division reshaped political support, influencing candidate selection and voter behaviour, and contributing to the defeat of MPs aligned with Among.
Among the defeated were Bugweri County MP Abdul Katuntu, Namutumba District Woman MP Mariam Naigaga, Morris Kibalya of Bugabula South, Kigulu South MP Milton Muwuma (Iganga), Kamuli Municipality MP Barado Kayanga Watongola, Bulamogi County MP Bwire Sanoni Nadeba, and Kigulu North MP Ismail Badodi.
Those who retained seats from Among’s camp included Solomon Silwany of Bukooli Central and Bugiri District Woman MP Eunice Namatende.