By KT Reporter
Bushenyi District Chairperson, Jaffar Basajjabalaba, has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LC5 race after being assigned to a new task ahead of the general election. Basajjabalaba, who was running as an independent, lost to Prosper Twebaze—a former radio presenter—during the NRM primaries held in July 2025. Twebaze won by a landslide, polling 66,101 votes (86.2%) against Basajjabalaba’s 10,597 votes (13.8%), to clinch the party flag.
His withdrawal now leaves Twebaze unopposed in the Bushenyi LC5 race. The decision followed a private meeting with President Yoweri Museveni, which the President confirmed through his X (formerly Twitter) account over the weekend.
“I met my daughter Resty Namutamba from Luuka and Mr. Jaffari Basajjabalaba, the LC5 Chairman of Bushenyi, both of whom belong to the NRM. I wish to commend them for accepting to withdraw from the race in favour of the NRM flag bearers. This is in line with our NRM principles, and it should be promoted because it saves time and eliminates divisions,” President Museveni wrote.
On Sunday, Basajjabalaba confirmed his withdrawal during a party, revealing that he had been appointed to both the NRM national task force and the President’s campaign task force for the 2026 general election. He said the President emphasized the need for harmony within the ruling party and urged him to set an example for other district chairpersons who insist on running as independents.
Reflecting on his political journey, Basajjabalaba noted: “I contested against Peter Rwakifari Kibondo in 2016 and Rev. Lauben Mugarura in 2021, both of whom I defeated, but neither stood as independent.” He also revealed that ahead of his meeting with Museveni, he had received phone calls from Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha of Mbarara Archdiocese and Bishop Johnson Twinomujuni of the Western Ankole Diocese, both urging him to step aside.
After the announcement, Prosper Twebaze welcomed the move, describing it as a unifying gesture. “We extend special thanks to the NRM National Chairperson, who is also the President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for being a unifying factor in the spirit of the NRM mass party. His contribution as a parent cannot be taken for granted,” Twebaze said in a statement.
With Basajjabalaba out of the race, Twebaze becomes the fourth district chairperson to sail through unopposed ahead of the general election, joining Happy Herbert Mayanja of Ibanda, Alone Turahi of Isingiro, and Jemimah Buhanda of Sheema District.
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