NRM Cadres Petition Museveni Over Procedure for Identifying Speaker Candidates

11 March 2026, 4:13 pm

By Annet Nakato

A group of cadres under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has written to party chairman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni raising concerns about the procedure used to identify the party’s candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament.

In a letter dated March 9, 2026, the group, identifying itself as the NRM Revolutionary Network (NRN), appealed to the President to revisit the process, arguing that some key procedural steps were not fully followed before the endorsement of candidates.

Addressed to Museveni in his capacity as the national chairman of the NRM, the letter states that the cadres remain committed members of the ruling party and are concerned about safeguarding its ideological integrity, institutional discipline, and democratic character.

Our leadership selection processes should reflect the participatory and institutional work ethic of the NRM revolution,” the letter reads in part.

The cadres claim that the endorsement of candidates reportedly occurred before several critical procedural stages had been completed.

According to them, these include the gazettement of Special Interest Group representatives to Parliament, the full constitution of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, the submission of expressions of interest by eligible Members of Parliament, and the formal convening of the caucus to nominate and elect official party candidates.

They argue that these procedures are important safeguards meant to ensure transparency and participation within the party’s leadership selection processes.

The group further noted that the longevity and strength of the NRM have historically depended on internal debate, discipline, and adherence to the movement’s founding principles.

“As a generation that inherited the gains of the revolution, we believe it is our responsibility to safeguard those gains by ensuring that the Movement’s institutions operate transparently, predictably, and in accordance with established rules,” the letter states.

The cadres therefore requested that the process for identifying the NRM’s candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament be revisited to ensure compliance with the party’s procedures and democratic principles.

They said reviewing the process would help strengthen confidence among party members and reaffirm the NRM’s commitment to orderly and participatory leadership processes.

The letter reiterates the group’s loyalty to the NRM and its founding ideals, saying the appeal is intended to support the continued unity, institutional strength, and credibility of the ruling party.

The National Resistance Movement has not yet publicly responded to the concerns raised in the letter.