OPINION: The election year, 2026, is around the corner. Incumbents will struggle to retain their seats while many others will vie to replace them.
The contests will cut across; from the president, members of parliament and local government leaders.
As the temperatures begin to rise, kigezipost.co.ug starts analyzing the political climate, aspirants and the issues that are likely to influence voter choices.
RUKUNGIRI MUNICIPALITY:
Three individuals have expressed interest in running for a parliamentary seat on the NRM ticket thus far.
Among these include Rt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, Counsel Isaac Atukunda and the incumbent MP. Hon. Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa.
Even though the NRM has made progress in Rukungiri Municipality since the general elections of 2021, it will need to work harder this time to bring these candidates together after NRM primary elections if it hopes to win the seat in general elections of 2026.
Rukungiri municipality voters have begun vetting these three candidates, and some have already chosen who to back and who to decampaign.
RT. GEN. HENRY TUMUKUNDE:
The majority of Rukungiri Municipality residents were taken aback when they heard that former presidential candidate Gen. Henry Tumukunde would run for the Rukungiri Municipality Parliamentary seat.
They wondered if he was interested in serving his personal interests or solving their problems.
According to the locals, Gen. Tumukunde is a “political prostitute” since he is not particular about the position he desires.
They went on to say that they are now prepared to accept the substantial quantities of money he is giving out, but that he will not win the position in the upcoming elections.
The locals also assert that since joining the NRM government, Tumukunde never thought about Rukungiri, and they question why he now pleads for assistance from those he has never assisted in providing services.
Gen. Henry Tumukunde may lose the Rukungiri Municipality NRM Parliamentary flag in the next NRM primary elections as a result of their current assertion that they are tired of being taken advantage of by those who come with their own agendas.
Henry Tumukunde is a politician and retired senior military officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
He ran as an independent candidate for president in the 2021 Ugandan general election.
He was the Minister of National Security in the Cabinet of Uganda, appointed to that position on 6 June 2016.
On 4 March 2018, he was relieved of his duties in an unexpected cabinet reshuffle.
He is also an advocate of the High Court of Uganda. He has served as the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Director of Planning, Chief of Personnel and Administration, Chief of Military Intelligence as well as serving as the commanding officer of the UPDF Fourth Division, based in Gulu in the Northern Region of Uganda.
He has also previously served as the director general of the Internal Security Organization (ISO).
Tumukunde was also a Member of Parliament representing the Army in the Parliament of Uganda between 1995 and 2005.
He was born on 28 February 1959 in Rukungiri District in the Western Region of Uganda. He attended Bishop Stuart College Demonstration School in Mbarara for his primary education and Kigezi College Butobere (Siniya) and Kibuli Secondary School for his O-Level and A-Level education, respectively.
Tumukunde graduated from Makerere University with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1981.
He obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice awarded by the Law Development Centre in 2010.
He also holds an Executive Masters in Oil and Gas Management, awarded by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies of Geneva in 2013.
HON. DR. ELISA RUTAHIGWA:
Hon. Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa, the current Member of Parliament, has received numerous accolades for his dedication, particularly for his efforts in advocating for the construction of a maternity ward and theater at Rwamahwa Health (IV), which has been a significant accomplishment during his term.
Furthermore, during his term, Hon. Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa supported various hospitals, churches, and schools, among other institutions, which set his tenure apart from the time when Rukungiri Municipality was still controlled by the opposition.
Nonetheless, the majority of people believe that Dr. Rutahigwa must now put in more effort to win the same seat since he has formidable opponents who are well-funded and have a steady ground force.
Several contend that since being proclaimed the winner of the 2021 general elections, Dr. Rutahigwa stoked differences among the leaders of Rukungiri Municipality and has failed to fulfill several of his promises.
As we all know, this might be real or not because politicians would stop at nothing to discredit their opponents in order to win over the public and if it’s true, though, Hon. Rutahigwa would have to work hard to win his seat.
Hon. Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa is a well trained medical doctor who is also currently the Rukungiri Municipality legislator.
COUNSEL ISAAC ATUKUNDA.
Another person who eyes for Rukungiri Municipality Parliamentary seat on NRM ticket is Counsel Isaac Atukunda.
Residents of Rukungiri Municipality began to support Atukunda early last year because of his contributions to the area’s development.
Counsel Isaac Atukunda has a good chance of taking the NRM flag since he demonstrated to the voters that he is capable of working even if he hasn’t been elected as the area MP yet.
Counsel Isaac has so far taken numerous steps to bring services closer to the people, such as constructing springs in all three divisions of Rukungiri Municipality, establishing Atukunda Education Trust to help underprivileged children receive an education, and encouraging young people’s talents, among other things.
Counsel Isaac Atukunda has frequently provided financial assistance to locals, particularly those who intend to use community services to repair deteriorating roads, increasing his chances of receiving their support.
He said that he was approached by a number of people from Rukungiri Municipality to come and contest in the 2026 elections and develop the area.
Counsel Isaac is hopeful that the Rukungiri Municipality residents will this time vote according to what a leader is able to deliver and not along party lines.
Isaac Atukunda is the Managing Partner at Credo Advocates, his professional, legal and transaction experience has been mainly in mining, Land transactions, NGO Management, Immigration, Commercial transactions and drafting of Legal Documents.
Isaac is Co-Director of Hyper Forex Bureau, and is also the Proprietor of Orchids Herbal Tea and Restaurant.
Isaac has been an Assistant Lecturer of law at Kampala International University where he taught Civil Proceedings, Law of Contract and law of torts.
Isaac is also currently the legal advisor for the consulate of Djibouti in Uganda. Isaac is also a member of the synod of the North Kigezi Diocese of the Church of Uganda.
In order to improve the party and win the general elections, it is imperative that NRM party members cooperate and stand together in the event that two of these candidates lose the NRM primaries.
