Former Lwengo District Chairperson George Mutaabazi returns to politics, citing a decline in NRM support.
A significant political shift has occurred in Lwengo District with the former District Chairperson, George Mutaabazi, publicly announcing his retirement from the district's politics. This decision follows his observation of a decline in the integrity of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party's support base in the area.
Mutaabazi, who was the inaugural Chairperson of Lwengo when it was created as a district in July 2007, served for a decade. His tenure was often marked by controversy in the press due to his strict leadership style. After being voted out of office in the 2021 elections, he has now declared a complete withdrawal from the political arena of Lwengo, citing a lack of support from the local populace.
His retirement announcement was made during a function organised by Saulo Kamaali Sekindi, a parliamentary aspirant for Bukoto Midwest, which was aimed at mobilising support for the NRM. In his remarks, Mutaabazi expressed his disbelief that his own NRM party could lose elections in Lwengo due to the calibre of its candidates. He firmly stated that Lwengo has always been an NRM stronghold, and he cannot stand by and watch it be destroyed.
He took a sharp jab at the voters who ousted him in 2021, suggesting they believed he would seek revenge, but he retorted that it is they who are now "regretting" their decision not to re-elect him. He urged the people of Lwengo to elect competent, devoted NRM leaders, not those who are self-serving and merely seeking prestige.
In a controversial critique, Mutaabazi claimed that holding an NRM party card is not a sufficient qualification for leadership, as many acquire these cards "dishonestly." He advised the party in Lwengo to support leaders with a proven record of loyalty to the party, rather than those who are opportunistic.
These statements have caused significant tension within the NRM ranks in Lwengo. Many party officials have reacted strongly, declaring that they will not campaign for any candidate whose membership card they suspect was not obtained genuinely and honourably.
In response, one of the frontrunners in the race, Saulo Kamaali Sekindi, who is campaigning as a dedicated party stalwart, fired back with a metaphorical challenge. He stated that the "bullet," a symbol of the NRM's historical struggle, would ultimately expose and reject those who are not truly committed to the party's core principles.
