BY MATHIUS KAHUNGU
A Section of Members of parliament from Kasese District has petitioned the NRM secretariat in Kampala seeking that the party prevails over the district branch on alleged mismanagement of funds meant to facilitate the party structure mobilization ahead of the local council one and women council elections.
The Legislators including the Bukonzo county East member of parliament Hon Dr. Julius Rude Monday Rude and his Busongora County North Counterpart Hon. Sowedi Kitanywa say they wrote the petition after receiving persistent complaints from lower level party leaders and beneficiaries across the district claiming that funds intended for specific NRM structures in accordance with the directives contained in the circular, have not consistently reached the intended beneficiaries in their right amounts.
They claimed that there are allegations that portions of these funds have been withheld, and or redirected by the Kasese District NRM executive committee (DEC) contrary to the purpose for which the funds were appropriated.
In a letter dated July 20th, 2026 addressed to the NRM secretary General, a copy of which Messiah Radio has seen, the Legislators argue that should the allegations be left unaddressed, they risk undermining accountability, transparency, confidence in party leadership and the effective functioning of grassroot structures hence exposing the party to avoidable internal disputes.
They explained their petition was meant to ask the party top leadership to among others direct the Kasese district DEC to release all the funds under the circular to be disbursed directly and fully to the intended beneficiaries as specified therein, without unauthorized deductions, diversions or alterations as directed by the NRM secretariate.
They also asked the secretariate to institute an independent verification and accountability process into the complaints concerning the alleged diversions or withholding of the party funds within Kasese District by the NRM District Executive committee among others.
They cited the sub-county NRM chairpersons who they said were supposed to receive UGX 100,000 but instead the Kasese branch office offered them UGX 80,000.
Speaking to messiah Radio on phone, Hon Sowedi Kitwanywa confirmed the development and acknowledged participation in the petition.
However, the Kasese District NRM party chairperson, Hon. Amb James Mbahimba refuted the claims of diverting the said funds.
ENDS.