In a dramatic turn of events, four aspirants have withdrawn from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections, just hours before delegates cast their votes.
The first to step aside was Capt. Mike Mukula, who has served as the party’s vice chairperson for Eastern Uganda for more than a decade. In a last-minute announcement, Mukula declared his withdrawal and threw his weight behind Calvin Echodu, his closest rival in the race.
His decision set off a chain reaction, with Michael Mawanda, a contender for vice chairperson for Western Uganda, also bowing out. Shortly after, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi and Joseph Sewava pulled out of the hotly contested Central region race.
The withdrawals significantly reshaped the contest, even as voting continued for other key positions. Notably, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga were still battling it out for the influential position of National Female Vice Chairperson, with counting underway.
The mass withdrawals have stirred speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations and shifting alliances within the ruling party’s top organ, coming at a critical moment in the NRM’s internal politics.
