SERIOUS BATTLE LOOMS: HON. AJA VS MINISTER BAHATI FOR KABALE NRM CHAIRMANSHIP

By Ambrose Kweronda

In Kabale——-

Hon. Aja Andrew Baryayanga, the former MP for Kabale Municipality, has officially announced that he is running for NRM Party Chairman for Kabale District.

In a bold move, Hon. Aja declared that it’s time to save the party from internal fights and weak leadership. He believes the NRM in Kabale has become divided, and he wants to bring it back to its glory before the 2026 elections.

Speaking to www.mknewslink,com reporter this week, Hon. Aja explained that Kabale, once a strong NRM district, has slowly been losing ground to other parties. He blames this on weak leaders who are failing the party, which pushed him to take action.

“I can’t watch my party fall apart,” he said. “I am ready to step up and lead the NRM in Kabale.” Hon Aja was quoted.

Hon. Aja’s family is deeply rooted in NRM history. His father, the late Stephen Baryayanga, was a key figure in the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), the party that later became NRM, led by

President Yoweri Museveni.

During that time, UPM in Kigezi subregion had powerful mobilizers like Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Amama Mbabazi who later became Prime Ministers of Uganda, celebrated businessman Dr. Amos Nzeyi, Hon. Jack Sabiiti, and the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, who became Governor of the Bank of Uganda.

Hon. Aja said he’s proud to be a child of the NRM, and he will not sit back while the party loses support to other rising political movements. Though he previously ran as an independent in Kabale Municipality, he explained that this was because his victory was stolen by Hon. Serapio Rukundo, who was then the Minister of State for Tourism.

“Even when I was independent, I was still mobilizing for NRM,” Hon Aja added.

Currently, the NRM in Kabale is led by Hon. David Bahati, the State Minister for Cooperatives and MP for Ndorwa West County. Bahati has held this top party position in Kabale for two terms.

With Hon. Aja now in the race, the contest is expected to be fierce. Both men are well-connected, popular in Kabale District, and financially capable of running strong campaigns.

The role of NRM District Chairperson is important, as the person in charge must lead the party at the local level, ensuring unity and mobilizing supporters. The chairperson also plays a key role in preparing the party for elections. In a district like Kabale, known for its strong political history, the chairperson must keep the NRM strong and well-organized.

As the election approaches, all eyes are on this brewing political showdown between two powerful figures. Kabale is about to witness a heated battle for the top NRM position!