President Museveni has commended Capt. Mike Mukula for stepping down from the race for National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda during the ongoing National Delegates Conference at Kololo Independence Grounds.
Mukula, who had been vying for the influential Central Executive Committee (CEC) seat, announced his withdrawal in favor of David Calvin Echodu.
President Museveni said the move reflected the true spirit of the NRM, emphasizing that leadership should be measured by solutions and shared interests rather than individual positions.
“I consistently advocate for solution-based leadership; it’s not about who leads but what is accomplished. I commend the two leaders for going back to our principle of shared interest as opposed to individual position,” Museveni said.
In his statement, Mukula explained that his withdrawal was driven by concerns over the integrity of the campaign process, which he described as compromised by open voter bribery and reckless spending. He argued that participating under such circumstances would amount to endorsing practices contrary to the values of the Movement.
“This withdrawal should not be mistaken for weakness or indifference. On the contrary, it is an act of conviction and political maturity — a clear stand against the commercialization of politics and the corrosion of our party’s values,” Mukula stated.
He further called on the NRM leadership, including President Museveni, the CEC, and the party’s Electoral Commission, to reflect on the challenges undermining internal democracy and to institute reforms aimed at restoring integrity and confidence within the party.
