Museveni’s younger brother, Michael Nuwagira (Toyota) sometime back allegedly vowed to lead the battle to unseat Rwemiyaga County MP Theodore Sekikubo, with a plan of ending his 24-year dominance in the constituency.
The declaration was made during the official launch of retired army officer Brig. Gen Emmanuel Rwashande’s campaign.
Toyota, who’s also the chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), laid out his frustration with Sekikubo’s long tenure in Parliament, arguing that it has yielded no tangible benefits for Rwemiyaga or Sembabule District.
He portrayed Sekikubo as a politician who has consistently neglected his legislative duties and focused instead on protest politics, self-promotion, and internal fights within the NRM.
In Toyota’s view, the people of Rwemiyaga deserve a leader who will prioritize their interests in Parliament and maintain a strong working relationship with the NRM government.
He sees Rwashande as that leader (a disciplined former military officer and party loyalist with the potential to finally deliver services and development to the area). Toyota emphasized that the real contest lies in the upcoming NRM primaries, and that winning there would open the door for Rwashande to ascend to Parliament.
The campaign launch followed days of tension in the constituency. Earlier, rival supporters from both camps had clashed violently, leaving several injured and one-person dead.
The escalating hostility forced NRM’s Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi, to suspend all campaign activities in the area pending a resolution of the conflict. Although calm had largely returned by the time of the launch, the underlying political rivalry remains intense.
Toyota’s criticism of Sekikubo was focused on his failure to speak for Rwemiyaga in Parliament. Instead of pushing for improved services or infrastructure, Sekikubo is accused of focusing on demonstrations and confrontational politics that have done little, or nothing to uplift the area.
The perception that he has distanced himself from the party leadership over the years has only deepened resentment from party loyalists.
Sekikubo, long known as one of NRM’s most vocal internal critics, has had a complicated relationship with the ruling party. His early alignment with Robert Kyagulanyi’s People Power movement cast doubts on his loyalty, even though he returned to the NRM in time for the 2021 elections.
Despite holding onto his seat, Sekikubo’s political capital within the party has steadily eroded, with many now questioning whether he still commands the same influence he once enjoyed.
Rwashande’s entry into the race and his eventual win in the last NRM primaries , backed by a prominent figure like Toyota, has dramatically changed the political landscape in Rwemiyaga. With support from the PLU and links to the upper chambers of the NRM it was not so difficult for him to defeat Sekikubo.
But Sekikubo has protested Rwashande’s win and dragged him to the NRM tribunal which is yet to deliver it verdict on Sekikubo’s election petition.
If the NRM tribunal upholds Rwashande’s win will that crash Sekikubo’s political career? Would that mean that Rwashande was the best match to defeat the noisy Sekikubo? Can Sekikubo manage to come back in next years national general elections if he contests as an independent candidate? Let us watch the space.
