Gen Muhwezi Humbled in NRM Veterans League Elections

Security Minister Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi has suffered a stunning political defeat after losing the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) Veterans League chairperson race to Isingiro District’s Lt. Moses Mushabe.

The elections, held on Monday at Kololo Independence Grounds during the NRM delegates’ conference, saw Mushabe secure 1,047 votes while Muhwezi managed 570. The results shocked many party members, given Muhwezi’s long-standing role as one of President Museveni’s most trusted allies.

Also in the race were Jackson Walsimbi, who garnered 7 votes, and Titus Erisa Kiwanuk with 11, but the contest was widely seen as a showdown between Mushabe and Muhwezi.

Muhwezi, a historical bush war veteran and seasoned politician, has been a pillar in the ruling party for decades. His defeat, however, signals shifting dynamics within the NRM’s veterans’ wing, where younger and less established figures are now rising to prominence.

Political observers say Mushabe’s victory represents a generational and strategic shift, with grassroots veterans preferring a fresh face to steer their league. For Muhwezi, this loss may dent his long-standing influence within the party’s internal structures, though his position as Security Minister remains intact.

The outcome has sparked debate within NRM circles, with many interpreting it as a warning sign of the growing appetite for change and re-alignment within the party’s veterans’ constituency.