Africa-Press – Uganda. Former Kabale Municipality MP Andrew Baryayanga has returned to the political spotlight, securing an uncontested victory as Head of Finance for the NRM Mainstream Division Structures in Kabale’s Northern Division.
The Friday election was fraught with internal wrangles, as a faction reportedly backed by Wakiso Deputy Resident District Commissioner Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha attempted to field Emmanuel Niwagaba as Baryayanga’s challenger
. However, Niwagaba was disqualified before ballots could be cast, having lost at the parish-level elections — a breach of the party’s hierarchy rules which require candidates to advance only after winning lower-tier contests.
Kabale District NRM Registrar Babra Ainebyoona confirmed the disqualification and Baryayanga’s automatic victory.
Her position was echoed by Kabale RDC Godfrey Nyakahuma, who also stepped in to de-escalate tensions that had begun brewing among rival camps.
Baryayanga’s re-emergence in the party structure marks a calculated political revival as he sets his sights on the broader Kabale District NRM Chairmanship — a position that would cement his foothold ahead of 2026 political alignments.
The election outcome is another setback for Emmanuel Niwagaba, who now suffers a second consecutive elimination from intra-party races, further diminishing his immediate political prospects.
Observers in Kabale say the contest illustrates intensifying factional competition within the ruling party’s local structures, with emerging leaders clashing over influence in the post-2021 landscape.
Baryayanga, once known for contesting as an independent during his tenure as MP, appears to be firmly reintegrating himself into NRM’s core machinery, leveraging procedural wins and grassroots loyalty to stage a return.
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