By Jamillah Kemigisa
In a sweeping and unprecedented political shift, voters in Bunyangabu District have ousted all incumbent Members of Parliament under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), signaling growing discontent with poor service delivery and unfulfilled campaign promises.
Among those shown the door is first-term MP Hon. Kamukama, who placed a distant fifth in a nine-way race. Rising political figure Victor Kalenzi emerged victorious and now holds the NRM flag for the Bunyangabu County parliamentary seat.
In a similarly dramatic upset, Dr. Peace Regis Mutuuzo, the incumbent Woman MP and State Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, lost by a wide margin to political newcomer Sarah Kabarokole, who has now secured the NRM flag for the district’s Woman MP position.
The highly competitive primaries revealed deep voter frustration, with residents accusing their leaders of detachment from the grassroots and failure to deliver on promises.
“We didn’t vote for them because of the poor services they offered. They forgot us once they entered Parliament,” said Kansiime Immaculate, a resident of Rwimi Subcounty.
Isingoma Benjamin, a voter from Kibiito Town Council, added: “We wanted to give new people a chance to showcase their leadership abilities. And to the winners—we are watching. If they don’t fulfill their promises, they too will be dropped in the next election.”
Speaking shortly after her victory, Sarah Kabarokole expressed gratitude to the voters and extended a call for unity.
“I thank all those who voted for me. I humbly ask those I competed with to work together with me,” she said. “I saw great ideas in their manifestos. If we combine forces, we can bring meaningful and lasting change to Bunyangabu and uplift NRM as a party.”
Kalenzi Victor, who unseated Hon. Kamukama, pledged a people-centered leadership style rooted in accountability and action.
“I promise to be different from the former MP. I will fulfill my manifesto, which focuses on improving health services, boosting education, and ensuring better service delivery across the constituency,” he told jubilant supporters.
The outcome has sent shockwaves through the NRM leadership in Bunyangabu, raising serious questions about the future of several party stalwarts and underscoring the urgent need for NRM to rebuild its connection with the grassroots.
As the district prepares for the 2026 general elections, voters have sent a clear message: performance—not party loyalty—will determine political survival.
Bunyangabu, once considered a stronghold of NRM incumbents, now stands as a powerful example of voter-driven accountability. Residents have made it clear that broken promises and neglect will no longer be tolerated, ushering in what many hope will be a new era of responsive, transparent, and transformative leadership.
