By KT Reporter
Jacqueline Kyatuheire, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Deputy National Treasurer, has defended Bridget Asinga Tumwesigye, the acting Kabale District NRM chairperson, who is facing accusations of endorsing and supporting an independent, opposition-leaning candidate.
Asinga is accused of backing Wilfred Niwagaba, a former NRM member who was expelled from the party in 2025 alongside Theodore Sekikubo (Lwemiyaga County MP), Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central MP), and Barnabas Tinkasimire (Buyaga County MP). The expulsions were based on alleged indiscipline and defiance of official party positions. Since then, Niwagaba has been contesting as an independent candidate and is widely known for his public criticism of the NRM leadership.
Asinga was appointed by the party’s top leadership as acting district chairperson, replacing State Minister for Trade David Bahati. Bahati opted to contest as an independent candidate for the Ndorwa West parliamentary seat after losing the NRM party flag to Eliab Naturinda Mporeera during the primaries.
Tensions within the party escalated after Asinga openly endorsed Niwagaba during his nomination to contest for the Ndorwa East County Member of Parliament seat. The endorsement angered a section of NRM supporters and leaders in Kabale District, who argue that Niwagaba’s candidature undermines the party’s official flag bearer, Protasio Begumisa.
The matter was formally raised during a meeting of NRM party delegates held in Kabale District on October 31, organised by Engineer Jonard Asiimwe, the party’s Vice Chairperson in charge of the Western Region. During the meeting, Begumisa expressed concern over Asinga’s conduct.
However, Asiimwe did not make an immediate decision on the issue. The controversy later took a legal turn when Mathias Besigye, an NRM supporter from Kyanamira Sub-county, where Asinga is contesting for the position of district councillor on the NRM ticket, issued a notice of intention to sue dated December 18, 2025, through Naafi & Wanume Advocates. Besigye accuses Asinga of breaching Article 5(e) of the NRM party constitution by endorsing an independent candidate.
He further alleges that she diverted NRM campaign materials, including party T-shirts, to Niwagaba instead of handing them to the official flag bearer, Protazio Begumisa, contrary to Rule 4 of the NRM party rules. Besigye is demanding that Asinga resign as acting district chairperson and has also called on the party to dismiss her from the position.
Asinga has declined to comment on the allegations despite repeated attempts to reach her. But Kyatuheire, who also heads the NRM grassroots mobilisation team for the Kigezi region, confirmed that the party leadership received written complaints against Asinga in late November 2025, during President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign tour of the region.
However, Kyatuheire said the party is exercising caution and has so far refrained from taking disciplinary action, citing the complex political dynamics in Kabale District. She noted that although the party directed Bahati to step aside, several members of the District Executive Committee have also been accused of supporting independent candidates, making it difficult to discipline or dissolve the entire leadership structure.
She warned that disbanding the district leadership at this stage could trigger a political crisis, as it would be impractical to organise fresh elections so close to the general polls.
Kyatuheire further explained that Asinga defended herself by stating that she endorsed Niwagaba before her appointment as acting chairperson and that she was unaware at the time that she would assume the position. Kyatuheire added that the party believes rushing to reprimand Asinga could worsen an already fragile situation, noting that “two wrongs cannot make a right.”
She emphasised that investigations into the matter are still ongoing and reiterated that NRM supporters are expected to vote strictly for party flag bearers.
According to the Electoral Commission roadmap, voting for presidential and parliamentary candidates is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
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