By Lozio Tamale
LUUKA
Annet Nabirye has been elected as the new Luuka District NRM Women League Chairperson, unseating Hon. Esther Mbayo’s influence in a landslide victory that signals a seismic shift in the ruling party’s grassroots dynamics in the district.
In elections held Friday, May 23, at the Luuka District headquarters, Nabirye secured 48 votes against 10 garnered by Fidah Namuwaya, the personal assistant to Hon. Mbayo, who was fronted as her preferred successor. The results were declared by the Luuka District NRM Election Officer, Mr. Kikuri Nelson.
The outcome delivers a significant political blow to Hon. Mbayo, the incumbent District Woman Member of Parliament and former Minister for the Presidency, whose camp has suffered a string of defeats in the ongoing party internal elections.
Nabirye, who has already expressed interest in contesting for the Luuka District Woman MP seat in the 2026 general elections, now emerges as a formidable political figure in the area.
This marks the third consecutive victory for Nabirye over Mbayo’s camp in the current NRM structures. Last week, Nabirye’s team swept the town council and sub-county elections, winning Bulanga, Luuka, and Bukoova town councils. Mbayo’s camp only managed to secure Busalamu and Kyanvuma.
At the sub-county level, Nabirye’s allies triumphed in six of seven sub-counties, including Irongo, Nawampiti, Bukanga, Ikumbya, Bulongo, and Bukooma, reinforcing her growing popularity and organisational strength.
Nabirye’s momentum began building at the parish level, where she defeated Hon. Mbayo in Irongo Parish, Irongo Sub-county, by polling 27 votes against Mbayo’s 17.
Political observers now see Nabirye as a strong contender for the NRM flag in next year’s parliamentary race, a move that could set up a high-stakes showdown with the sitting MP.
