National Resistance Movement (NRM) Makerere University chapter has endorsed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to contest for a seventh presidential term in 2026.
The chapter endorsed Museveni on Friday, September 6th, 2024, at the NRM Mak chapter handover that the NRM secretary general Richard Todwong witnessed. With this endorsement, the chapter has okayed the 80-year-old Museveni’s extension of his tenure to over 45 years.
President Museveni has been in power since 1986 following his victory in a five-year guerrilla war, making him one of Africa’s longest-ruling leaders. The endorsement is also a bold statement on the position of the youth in the leadership conflict between Museveni and his first son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The latter is being marketed as the potential candidate to oust his father President Museveni.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Richard Todwong said NRM has a lot of expectations in the young people because they are the party’s bridge to the next generation.
“You are young people, the party and the country have many expectations of you. You are the bridge of the party and we believe it is you to bring others into the party. You as intellectuals if you don’t open up your minds in discussing things that affect the country you will finish and jump into things you don’t understand. Don’t limit yourself to areas of small opportunities,” Todwong said.
Adding; “I implore you always to seek advice and guidance from the senior leaders if you are to be groomed into responsible leaders in future.”
The handover ceremony was attended by different dignitaries among whom was the Director of External Affairs Counsel Awich Pollar, Kampala Central Mayor Salim Uhuru, and NRM patron at Makerere University Dr Eria Hisali.
New Era?
NRM has always faced wide criticism and rejection among higher institutions of learning especially in the central region; however, there seems to be a new trend as more youth are comfortably associating with the party.
At Makerere University, NRM’s candidate and current chapter chairperson Ariho Edmond lost the 90th guild race by a deficit of four votes whereas the ‘yellow’ party won the 2024 guild election at MUBS. The party is optimistic that it will register more successes in the upcoming guild elections in institutions across the country.
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