President Yoweri Museveni has defended senior ruling party mobiliser Moses Karangwa against claims that his Rwandan origins disqualify him from representing Buganda region on the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).
In an X (formerly Twitter) post shared on Friday, Museveni warned against sectarian tendencies within the National Resistance Movement (NRM), stressing the party’s foundation on “principled unity” over tribal or religious divisions.
Pointing out the recent Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections in which Karangwa’s eligibility was questioned on grounds that he was “originally from Rwanda,” Museveni said Buganda is a multicultural unit, making Karangwa an eligible candidate to contest.
“This is not correct. Karangwa is one of the most active NRM cadres and Buganda is a multi-cultural unit,” Museveni wrote. “Even if the population in Buganda was mainly Baganda, you should look for capacity and dedication.”
Karangwa, a businessman and long-serving NRM mobiliser in Kayunga District, has previously come under criticism from local leaders and residents who accuse him of irregular land transactions that have displaced families. He has consistently denied the allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated.
President Museveni acknowledged receiving complaints linking Karangwa to land-grabbing, and disclosed that his record is being examined over separate complaints.
“The issue I have been intending to sort out with Karangwa is the signed letter I got from the Kayunga area accusing him of being involved in land-grabbing; but not ethnicity,” he added.
In the recently concluded NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections, Karangwa lost to Minister Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo for the Vice Chairperson Buganda region seat. Kasolo polled 4,194 votes (50.3%) against Karangwa’s 3,981 (47.3%). However, Karangwa alleged that his defeat was grounded on ethnic bias.
Museveni said the NRM must remain vigilant against the dangers of sectarian politics, recalling Uganda’s violent history before 1986.
