Africa-Press – Uganda. In a stunning upset in the recently concluded NRM primaries, Minister David Bahati lost the Ndorwa West parliamentary flag to lawyer Eliab Mporera.
Mporera secured 25,027 votes, surpassing Bahati’s 23,757 votes, ending the minister’s 20-year reign in the constituency.
Long-standing fatigue with Bahati’s leadership seemed to drive voters toward change. Many constituents expressed frustration over his perceived detachment, noting that Bahati often engaged with them from Kampala rather than maintaining a visible presence in the constituency.
Press visited Ndorwa West to gauge voter sentiments and understand what led to the decline of a once popular minister.
Youth voter Joseph Muhumuza from Katuna Town Council candidly stated that young people felt abandoned by Bahati.
“As youth, we are tired of being used and dumped,” Muhumuza said. “Minister Bahati has frustrated our growth and blocked emerging leaders in favor of personal loyalty over merit.”
Muhumuza also criticized Bahati for becoming proud and inaccessible, rewarding elites while isolating ordinary voters and grassroots mobilizers.
“Community voices were ignored for years, especially during critical moments like health crises and national consultations,” he added.
Other voters accused Bahati of fostering divisions along regional and religious lines — a tactic now seen as outdated and divisive in the current political climate.
In an exclusive interview, Eliab Mporera pledged a leadership rooted in unity and grassroots development, focused on both constituency and national strategic engagement.
“We want to promote education and ensure schools are well-built,” Mporera said. “Given the opportunity, we shall champion community development. Tourism, being the heart of Kigezi, will also receive strategic investment.”
Mporera’s message of unity and positive change resonated strongly with voters, leading to his decisive victory fueled by youthful energy and a fresh vision.
As the 2026 general elections approach, Ndorwa West and the broader Kigezi sub-region watch closely to see whether Minister Bahati, who currently serves as Kabale District NRM chairman, will attempt a comeback as an independent candidate.
Bahati has held the Kabale NRM chairmanship since 2015 and was recently re-elected, raising questions about his political future after this primary loss.
The people of Ndorwa West now await new leadership under Mporera’s promise to rejuvenate the constituency and foster inclusive development.
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