From Bidandi to Mbabazi: The Rise and Fall of Museveni’s Nominators over the years

Lweza, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 nomination at the Electoral Commission has once again highlighted a long-standing pattern — many of his nominators over the years have either fallen out with him politically or shifted allegiances, only to reconcile later or fade from the national stage.

At the ceremony held at the EC’s new headquarters in Lweza, Museveni’s nomination was moved by former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and seconded by Charity Lenia, a former youth leader under the National Unity Platform (NUP) who recently crossed to the NRM and is now the party’s flag bearer for Vurra County in Arua District.

Patterns of Loyalty and Fallout

Bidandi Ssali (2001): Then Local Government Minister, Bidandi nominated Museveni, but later broke away to form the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He ran against Museveni in 2011 but lost miserably and has since retired from politics.

Amama Mbabazi (2006): As NRM Secretary General, Mbabazi fronted Museveni’s candidature. Ten years later, he challenged Museveni in the 2016 polls under the Go Forward movement after a bitter fallout. However, the two reconciled, and Mbabazi now serves as a Special Envoy, even attending Museveni’s post-nomination rally at Kololo this year.

Alex Onzima (2011): Once a staunch FDC leader, Onzima crossed to NRM and seconded Museveni’s nomination fronted by the NRM vice chairman, Mr. Moses Kigongo. Onzima’s political influence has since declined, with limited national visibility.

Evelyn Anite (2016): Dr. Rukahana Rugunda, the premier, nominated Mr Museveni for president, seconded by then State Minister for Youth, Evelyn Anite, who went on to become famous for her “Museveni sole candidate” declaration. However, she has since faced political challenges in Koboko and diminishing influence within NRM politics, which forced her to opt out of the 2026 elections

Gaddafi Nasur (2021): Then NRM Youth League chairperson, Nasur seconded Museveni after Dr Rugunda’s endorsement, but he has since been overshadowed by younger political mobilizers within the party, with critics questioning his political weight.

Gaddafi, however, is now the NRM Flagbearer for Katikamu North MP heading into the 2026 general elections.

What It Means for 2026

Political analysts suggest that Museveni’s nominators often reflect the rising stars within the NRM at a given moment. However, the pattern also shows how political fortunes shift under Museveni’s long rule, with allies sometimes falling out, only to reconcile later or be replaced by new loyalists.

“The nomination history is like a mirror of Museveni’s power management; he elevates allies at a time, but once they assert independence, he sidelines them. Some return in reconciliation; others disappear,” a prominent governance analyst told DailyExpress.

With former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda once again nominating Museveni in 2026, this is seen as a sign of continuity and trust in long-serving loyalists, while the inclusion of Charity Lenia, a defector from the opposition NUP, signals NRM’s strategy of co-opting youthful voices to broaden its appeal.