The National Resistance Movement has appointed district leaders to coordinate mobilisation for its candidate, Aidah Nabayiga, ahead of the Kalangala District Woman MP by-election.
The party unveiled the strategy during a district leaders’ conference at the NRM offices in Kalangala on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
NRM Buganda region chairperson Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo named Bujumba leader Willy Lugoloobi, Kyamuswa’s Carol Nanyondo Birungi, and district chairperson Agnes Lunkuse among the campaign coordinators.
Kasolo described the coordinators as campaign “generals” who will guide mobilisation across the island district once campaigns begin.
“Their role in these yet-to-be-opened campaigns is to lead their fellow leaders in the NRM structure so that we defeat other parties as we did in other top leadership positions,” Kasolo said.
NRM Cites Recent Electoral Gains
Kasolo said the NRM performed strongly in Kalangala during the 2026 General Election.
He said the ruling party won five of the district’s seven sub-counties and increased its councillors from 13 in 2021 to 18 out of 24 council seats.
To strengthen mobilisation, Kasolo asked every village committee member to identify at least 10 voters and ensure they turn up on polling day.
He urged voters to back Nabayiga, saying she understands the needs of island communities.
“Vote for a tested leader who understands the boundaries of Kalangala district and will legislate in favour of islanders’ problems to find solutions from the governing party,” Kasolo said.
He added that Nabayiga would lobby for more development projects if elected.
By-Election Set for June 24
The Kalangala Woman MP by-election is scheduled for June 24, 2026.
The district comprises 84 islands and has 42,452 registered voters.
The Electoral Commission has conducted voter register activities across the island district ahead of the poll.
In the 2026 General Election, the late Hellen Nakimuli retained the Woman MP seat after securing 10,609 votes.
Nabayiga came second with 9,245 votes out of 19,854 valid votes cast.
Unlike the previous contest, the by-election has attracted more candidates.
Recent nominations cleared five candidates to compete for the seat.
NRM Calls for Vigilance
James Kinobe, a commissioner in the NRM electoral commission, urged party leaders and agents to closely monitor the voting process.
He said the party would protect its vote from polling stations to tally centres.
“We will make sure that we protect our victory, from polling centres to tally centres, since we got news that ballot boxes are sometimes hijacked while being transported from far distant islands at night,” Mr Kinobe said.
The comments reflect the logistical challenges of conducting elections across Kalangala’s scattered island communities.
Sseninde Urges Peaceful Campaigns
NRM director of mobilisation Rosemary Sseninde asked party cadres to conduct peaceful campaigns.
She said the party would rely on its grassroots structures to mobilise voters.
“We are going to make our campaigns scientific in that every committee member becomes an agent of our flag-bearer in this quest for victory,” Ms Sseninde said.
She urged NRM members to avoid internal divisions and unite behind the goal of reclaiming the district’s third parliamentary seat.
The NRM currently holds both constituency seats in Kalangala.
The party won them from former opposition legislators Julius Mukasa Opondo of Bujumba and Moses Kabuusu of Kyamuswa.
However, the district chairperson’s seat remains under the opposition, with Rajab Ssemakula of the National Unity Platform leading the district.
NRM leaders said they believe opposition influence in Kalangala has weakened compared to the 2021–2026 term.
Former NUP Councillor Welcomed Back
Sseninde also welcomed the return of former district speaker Richard Katumba to the NRM.
Katumba had crossed from NRM to the National Unity Platform in 2021 and was later elected Bujumba Sub-county direct councillor.
“You are now tasked with fishing your friends to witness the sunshine in NRM, vote for Nabayiga, then all their proposed projects go through the right channel to the responsible office holder,” Sseninde said.
The by-election is expected to test both NRM’s renewed grassroots mobilisation and NUP’s ability to defend a seat previously held by the late Nakimuli.