The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has suspended all campaign activities in Ssembabule District amid escalating tensions and intra-party violence among rival aspirants.
The suspension was announced by the party’s Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, who said campaign activities will remain halted until a resolution is reached in a scheduled meeting on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Kampala.
Ssembabule has become a flashpoint for political unrest within the NRM due to fierce competition between powerful political factions vying for party tickets.
Previous primary elections in the district have been plagued by violence, voter bribery, clashes, and disputes over the integrity of the party’s electoral processes.
Dr. Odoi said all aspirants will be invited to the Wednesday meeting, and no petitions related to the district will be entertained until the parliamentary primaries scheduled for July 16, 2025, are concluded.
He cited a tight party schedule ahead of national nominations for Members of Parliament and LC5 chairpersons, which are set for September 16, 2025, as one of the reasons for the urgent need to restore calm in the district. Instead of individual rallies, the NRM has today launched joint campaign activities for all flag bearer aspirants across the country.
Dr. Odoi said this approach aims to foster unity and deliver a consistent message rooted in the NRM manifesto. He dismissed concerns that the joint campaigns could incite further violence.
He revealed that the party has already budgeted for the joint campaigns, and funds will be disbursed through district registrars.
Dr. Odoi also warned aspirants against attempting to bribe officials, stressing that such behavior will not be tolerated. He reiterated the NRM’s commitment to fighting internal corruption and safeguarding the integrity of the party’s electoral processes.
He further cautioned party members against harassing suspended or investigated registrars, saying disciplinary matters will be handled internally.
Meanwhile, registration for Central Executive Committee (CEC) positions is still ongoing. Ssembabule has a long history of political violence during NRM primaries, characterized by entrenched rivalries, alleged vote rigging, and violent clashes. In the latest incident on June 26, 2025, one person was shot dead and MP Theodore Ssekikubo injured during a campaign rally in Lwemiyaga.
The violence erupted in the midst of rising tensions between Ssekikubo and his challenger, retired Brigadier Emmanuel Rwashande. The two camps continue to accuse each other of inciting violence, hiring gangs, and manipulating party structures, despite recent mediation efforts and increased security deployments. Compounding the turmoil, the NRM did not elect a district chairperson in the recently concluded internal party elections for Ssembabule.
The race remains unresolved, with Mawogola West MP Hanifah Kawooya facing off against retired Major General Phinehas Katirima, a key ally of Brigadier Rwashande.
An earlier attempt to elect the district chairperson on May 23, 2025, ended in chaos, marred by violence and sharp divisions between the camps led by Ssekikubo and Rwashande.