NRM mobilizers in Rukungiri District have accused senior political actors of failing to pay them allowances for their role in campaigning for President Yoweri Museveni and other National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates during the January 15 general elections.
The group says they worked for 15 days in a door-to-door mobilisation drive, but have not received payments they were allegedly promised by Senior Presidential Advisor Peace Rugambwa.
They claim the promised payments varied by level, ranging from three hundred thousand shillings for parish mobilizers to three million shillings for district coordinators. Mobilizers say they spent personal money on transport, food, and communication during the campaign and have not been refunded.
Some allege they were promised additional post-election benefits, including lump-sum payments, a vehicle, and a meeting with the President, which have not materialized. The group, drawn from multiple districts in South Western Uganda, has appealed to President Museveni to intervene, saying the dispute is causing tension within the party structure.
They also raised allegations of past unfulfilled promises and accused the campaign team of internal mismanagement.
On December 23, 2025, Team Peace Rugambwa for President Museveni officially launched a door-to-door campaign aimed at mobilizing support for President Museveni and all NRM candidates ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The campaign strategy targeted rural and hard-to-reach areas, with the aim of convincing voters, including opposition supporters, to vote for NRM candidates.
The head of the advance team for Peace Rugambwa, who doubles as Mitooma District chairperson for Team Peace Rugambwa, Collins Mumpe, said the issue affects mobilizers in all the 12 districts of South Western Uganda where her team operated.
Mumpe asked President Museveni to intervene and help the mobilizers, saying the matter is creating divisions within the NRM party.
He also accused Peace Rugambwa of allegedly staging fake political converts during the election period by hiring people and printing opposition party cards for FDC and NUP supporters in order to convince the public and NRM leaders that she was actively mobilizing support on the ground.
Several mobilizers, including Peruth Nimusiima from Rukungiri Municipality, Joy Ngabirano from Bwambara Sub-county, Talent Nagasha from Rukungiri Municipality, LC1 Chairperson John-Bosco Muhumuza from Bwambara Sub-county, Julie Turyagyenda from Rukungiri Municipality, and Richard Turyabira from Nyakagyeme Sub-county, said they were promised more benefits after the elections.
They alleged that Peace Rugambwa promised ten million shillings to each of the eight district-level team members, a vehicle for the group, and a trip to State House to meet President Museveni after his victory. However, they claim she no longer answers their phone calls.
The mobilizers said they used their own money during the campaigns to cover transport, meals, airtime, and other expenses, but have never been refunded. Peace Rugambwa had not yet commented on the allegations, as she reportedly declined to answer repeated phone calls from our reporter-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
