Rukungiri District is set for a heated political contest as two former bush war comrades—Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi Katugugu and Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde—face off for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) district chairmanship.
The vote, scheduled for tomorrow, pits Security Minister Muhwezi, the incumbent NRM district chairperson, against Tumukunde, his predecessor in the same ministerial role and a declared contender for the Rukungiri Municipality MP seat in 2026.
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The rivalry has reignited old tensions between the two NRA war veterans, who once fought side by side in the 1981–1986 liberation struggle that brought the NRM to power. While Gen Muhwezi has long held political sway in Rukungiri, Tumukunde—a former spymaster, cabinet minister, and presidential candidate—is pushing to reclaim influence in his home district.
Political analysts say Tumukunde’s bid is part of a broader strategy to rebuild his grassroots base ahead of future national ambitions. Meanwhile, Muhwezi’s decades of dominance in local politics give him a strong foundation among party loyalists.
“This isn’t just a leadership race—it’s a clash of legacies and control in a district with deep NRM roots,” one analyst noted.
The contest has energized party members and drawn national interest, highlighting the contrasting political trajectories of two men bonded by history but divided by ambition.
The outcome could redefine power dynamics within the NRM and set the tone for future parliamentary and presidential campaigns, making Rukungiri a focal point in Uganda’s evolving post-liberation political landscape.
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