In a show of unity and strategic focus, three senior figures of Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, and Lydia Wanyoto, officially launched their re-election campaigns ahead of the party’s highly anticipated national conference slated for August at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The trio, each vying to retain their seats on the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), addressed journalists at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala on Tuesday July 29, 2025.
They rallied support from party delegates and underscored the importance of the internal elections as a cornerstone of NRM’s democratic processes.
Dr. Baryomunsi, the Minister for Information and National Guidance, is seeking a second term as NRM Vice Chairperson for the Western Region, one of the most competitive races, with ten candidates in the running.
Flanked by Wanyoto, the head of the NRM Women’s League, and Kiwanda, the incumbent Central Region Vice Chairperson, Baryomunsi cast himself as a stabilizing force at a critical juncture for both party and country.
“I’ve already picked up the nomination forms and was successfully nominated,” he confirmed. “CEC is not a job, it’s a party responsibility. This body sets policy direction, supervises government performance, and provides political guidance for the nation. We must elect leaders with the right vision.”
First elected to CEC in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, Baryomunsi emphasized continuity, arguing that the committee had achieved significant progress despite pandemic disruptions. “We spent two years under lockdown, but we still delivered. We consolidated support in Western Uganda, from Kasese to Rukungiri, converting many opposition-leaning areas into strongholds of the NRM.”
He cited infrastructure development, rural electrification, healthcare improvements, and wealth-creation programs as achievements made possible in part through close collaboration with President Museveni on national mobilization tours.
“The NRM remains the future of Uganda,” he declared. “We must continue backing President Museveni and those elected in our primaries.”
Among his notable proposals, Baryomunsi highlighted plans to strengthen party oversight at local government level. “Going forward, NRM chairpersons at district and lower levels will be ex-officio members of their respective councils,” he revealed. “This will ensure that the party keeps a close eye on government operations.”
Lydia Wanyoto made an equally compelling case for her re-election, emphasizing the pivotal role of CEC as the NRM’s strategic engine. “CEC is the party’s think tank, it initiates the visioning process that shapes every national policy before it reaches cabinet or parliament. That’s why we choose our most seasoned and competent cadres to serve there.”
She spotlighted her gender-focused work, especially within the Parish Development Model, which earmarks 30% of its funds for women. “We knew 68% of Ugandans were outside the money economy, and 45% of those were women,” she said. “So we brought development to the parish, the heart of rural Uganda. Empowering women uplifts households and transforms communities.”
Kiwanda, meanwhile, reflected on the NRM’s electoral setbacks in the Central Region during the 2021 elections. “Our performance wasn’t what it used to be,” he admitted. “But I conducted thorough research, documented the challenges, and submitted my findings to the national chairman.”
He credited the resulting interventions, including President Museveni’s recent engagement with cultural institutions, with restoring party stability in the region. “Our ties with the kingdom had been strained by opposition rhetoric. But I now see many of my proposals being implemented, which shows our leadership is responsive.”
Kiwanda appealed to delegates to entrust him with continued leadership, including his role as chair of the National Consultative Forum, noting that efforts to heal and mobilize the Central Region remain ongoing.
As the NRM gears up for its national conference, more than 300 individuals have been nominated for various CEC positions, including regional vice chairpersons and national-level roles such as First and Second Vice Chairperson.
One of the most closely watched races pits Speaker of Parliament Anita Among against her predecessor, Rebecca Kadaga, for the Second Vice Chairperson slot.
All three incumbents reaffirmed that political legitimacy must be earned at the grassroots. “Even the President travels the country to seek endorsement,” Baryomunsi noted. “So must we.”
As internal elections draw near, the race for CEC positions is shaping up to be more than just a leadership contest, it is a battle to define the direction and character of Uganda’s dominant political force in the years ahead
