Iganga, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday raised concern over continued political divisions in the Busoga sub-region after several senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders failed to attend a key party mobilization meeting in Iganga, just days before the Jan. 15 general elections.
The meeting, held at Iganga Girls Secondary School grounds, attracted thousands of NRM leaders from districts across Busoga. It was organized at the request of State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Persis Namuganza. However, Museveni expressed disappointment over the absence of some prominent leaders, including Namuganza herself, linking the low turnout to unresolved internal rivalries.
Addressing the gathering, Museveni said confusion over invitations reflected deeper divisions within the party. He told leaders that he personally called Speaker of Parliament and First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, who informed him that she had not been invited.
Museveni said he later contacted Speaker of Parliament Anita Among to clarify the matter. Among said all party flag bearers, including Kadaga, had been invited through Resident District Commissioners, District Internal Security Officers and party structures down to parish and village levels. Kadaga, Museveni added, questioned how the invitation had reached her.
The president warned that continued infighting weakens party unity, slows development and hurts ordinary citizens, especially the poor.
“When leaders fight, it is the poor who suffer,” Museveni said, adding that wealthy leaders are less affected by political quarrels, while ordinary people lose out on development and government support.
Museveni also stressed the importance of humility and responsible leadership, saying leadership failures are often the cause of problems, not government programs.
He explained how the NRM government has supported Ugandans through programs such as Entandikwa, NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation, the Youth and Women Funds, and more recently Emyooga and UDB for the service sector. The Parish Development Model is a further step that engages people directly through locally elected committees.
He said when these programs fail, leadership is often the problem.
“Where problems arise, the issue is leadership. Power is now decentralized to the beneficiaries, so the people must elect honest, accountable leaders,” Museveni said.
The president cited a local example from Busoga to show how peace and focus on wealth creation can lead to jobs.
He cited the example of Basangwa, whom he advised against political fights. He listened, focused on wealth creation, and today runs a large poultry enterprise employing over 300 people and that is how jobs are created.
Museveni said investors are drawn to areas with stability and clear policies, which leads to economic growth.
“Investors only come where there is peace, stability and clear policy, and jobs follow,” he said. “That is the ripple effect we are explaining, not diversionary theories.”
He urged voters to choose leaders who can be held accountable.
“Ugandans must therefore vote for leaders with a sound ideology who can be held to account,” Museveni said.
Despite the concerns, Museveni and other speakers said efforts are underway to restore unity in Busoga. Among echoed the call for cooperation, saying the region stands united behind the ruling party.
“In Busoga, we have only Team Busoga and Team Museveni,” Among said.
She also announced Shs15 million in Parish Development Model funds for leaders who attended the meeting and revealed plans to increase monthly allowances for LC1 chairpersons from Shs10,000 to Shs100,000.
Busoga has long experienced internal rivalries within the NRM, particularly between leaders allied to Kadaga and those aligned with Among. While reconciliation efforts have been made — including joint mobilization events by Kadaga and Namuganza in districts such as Namutumba and Kamuli in late 2025 — the latest events suggest tensions resurfaced in the final days of the campaign.
Museveni compared Busoga’s challenges with what he described as stronger unity in regions such as Bukedi, Lango, Bugisu, West Nile and Acholi. He urged leaders to put aside personal differences and work together for the benefit of citizens.
The meeting was attended by several senior NRM leaders, including former Vice President Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda and Speaker Anita Among.
Busoga remains a key political battleground for the ruling party. As the election draws closer, Museveni’s message was clear: unity, humility, accountable leadership and cooperation are critical for electoral success and meaningful development in the region.
