The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has embarked on a reconciliation campaign aimed at uniting warring factions within its ranks in Sembabule District.
The campaign, spearheaded by NRM Deputy Secretary General Rosemary Namayanja and the state minister for Microfinance Harunah Kyeyune Kasolo, is intended to resolve a bitter standoff between Sembabule Woman MP Mary Begumisa and Mawogola West MP, also State Minister of Health, Anifa Kawooya Bangirana.
Since the start of the current term, the two NRM legislators have remained at loggerheads, leading to the creation of rival camps that have fueled tension and are now fronting separate aspirants to unseat each other.
The feud reached a boiling point on Sunday when supporters from both camps nearly clashed during an NRM mobilization rally held at Lwebitakuli Seed Secondary School playground. The scuffle followed the unexpected arrival of MP Begumisa at the event.
NRM Deputy Secretary General Rosemary Namayanja, who officiated at the rally, expressed concern over the fallout, warning that such divisions are weakening the party’s foothold in the Buganda region. She pledged to lead reconciliation efforts between the two leaders.
Namayanja noted that the ongoing bickering could cost the party politically and hinder development efforts in the area due to a lack of cooperation.
Begumisa has consistently accused Minister Kawooya of using her position to sabotage her constituency initiatives in a bid to politically discredit her.
Namayanja called on the two MPs to work together for the collective benefit of Sembabule.
“To achieve succuss in the forthcoming general elections, we have to avoid unnecessary fights, we have to work together.” Namayanja noted.
Minister Harunah Kasolo also weighed in, urging supporters to stop fueling the conflict and give party leaders room to mediate the matter peacefully.
He particularly appealed to MP Begumisa to reconsider backing her husband to challenge Kawooya for the Mawogola West seat in the upcoming general election.
Kasolo emphasized the need for unity, noting that the infighting is undermining the party’s efforts to reclaim the Mawogola County seat, which fell to the National Unity Platform (NUP) in the last election.
Bukomansimbi Woman MP Mary Begumisa welcomed the reconciliation initiative but stressed that it must be conducted in a genuine and structured way.
She said the repeated attacks against her had provoked her supporters into defensive action.
However, Minister Anifa Kawooya dismissed the allegations, accusing Begumisa of fueling unnecessary conflict to stay politically relevant.
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