By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
MITOOMA
In Mitooma district, a former parliamentary contender for Ruhinda North county, Nelson Nkwene Nuwahereza, has formally withdrawn from the 2026 race and declared his support for the incumbent MP and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa.
Nuwahereza, who contested in the 2021 elections on the FDC ticket, says he is stepping aside to “unite behind leadership that serves the people,” and has endorsed Tayebwa for another five-year term, citing visible progress in infrastructure, health, and education.
However, the surprise endorsement has ignited a flurry of speculation in political circles, with some locals alleging that Nuwahereza may have been persuaded to withdraw in exchange for lucrative job promises from the Deputy Speaker, a claim neither side has confirmed.
Analysts say such backroom dealings are not uncommon in Uganda’s deeply patronage-driven political environment.
Nuwahereza is expected to address a media briefing later this evening in Mitooma District, where he is likely to face questions about the motives behind his decision.
The Ruhinda North constituency, located in western Uganda, is considered a ruling party stronghold, but intra-party competition has previously created fractures in local support. Tayebwa, who serves as Deputy Speaker of Parliament, is widely seen as a rising star in the National Resistance Movement and a close ally of the central government.
His camp has not yet issued an official response to the endorsement.
