Hon. Andrew Baryayanga Aja, former MP for Kabale Municipality, has announced his unopposed candidacy for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party Chairmanship in Kabale District.
Aja made this declaration on November 10, 2024, during a fundraising ceremony at Kirigime Church of Uganda Parish, located in the Archdeaconry of All Saints Church, Kabale Diocese of Kigezi. The event aimed to raise funds to pay off a loan of over 183 million UGX, which was incurred to purchase a residence for the parish priest. It also marked the sixth anniversary of the parish’s existence in Kirigime Ward, Southern Division, Kabale Municipality.
Aja stated that he is ready and capable of serving the people if elected as NRM Chairman for Kabale District. He explained that he had previously run as an independent due to challenges he faced in the past. However, he emphasized that he has always leaned toward the NRM and has now decided to run on the NRM ticket in the 2026-2031 General Elections.
Aja further added that no one has shown interest in contesting the position, apart from him, as he has already announced his candidacy.
In his speech, Aja expressed concerns about the current state of the NRM in Kabale, citing internal divisions and weak leadership as factors eroding the party’s influence in the region. His goal, he stated, is to revitalize the NRM and strengthen its presence across Kabale, with a vision of securing NRM representatives in all constituencies, including Kabale Municipality, Ndorwa West, and Ndorwa East.
Aja’s candidacy is seen as a challenge to Hon. David Bahati, the current State Minister for Industry at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, who has held the NRM chairmanship in Kabale for two terms. However, Bahati has yet to announce whether he will run for another term as NRM chairman.
CUE IN: HON. ANDREW BARYAYANGA ON THE MATTER RR/ENG//
Aja’s connection to the NRM is deeply rooted in his family history. His late father, Stephen Baryayanga, was an influential figure in the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM)—the precursor to the NRM under President Yoweri Museveni. Prominent mobilizers such as Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda and Hon. Amama Mbabazi also played a significant role in the early growth of UPM in Kigezi.
Aja concluded that his aim is to restore the NRM’s former glory, in contrast to the current situation, where Bahati has allegedly threatened those intending to contest for his MP position.
