Kawempe North: NRM’s Karadi Goes Independent after Ruling Party Gives Flag to Kigongo’s Daughter

The Kawempe North Member of Parliament by-election is exhibiting divisions in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party after one of the aspirants, Hajjat Hanifah Karadi, announced her bid to contest as an independent candidate.

Karadi sought the NRM flag, but the party instead gave the flag to Faridah Nambi, the daughter of party National Vice Chairman, Hajj Moses Kigongo.

Nambi was chosen out of seven contenders to carry the NRM flag.

Karadi challenged Nambi’s endorsement, saying that the nomination process was fraudulent, adding that it was not free and fair.

Karadi noted that Nambi was favored for being Kigongo’s daughter.

“Some of us are loyal cadres; we have been there for the party. It is unfortunate that the leaders of the party from the secretariat are breeding what they call independence because of the unfair processes. I therefore declare my candidacy. When time comes for the Electoral Commission, I will come as an independent,” Karadi said after she was denied the party flag.

However, Nambi dismissed Karadi’s claims that the nomination was not free and fair.

“If there is anybody who has a voice contrary to what the secretariat, the [NRM] Electoral Commission, and the security came upon; in the house, there is already a committee that has been established to hear their voices, and we know that NRM, as a part, has various opportunities to give to our people,” she said.

As has been the case in various contentious elections, some NRM supporters thought that the NRM party chairman, President Yoweri Museveni, would intervene and persuade Karadi and unsatisfied contenders to back Nambi.

To this day, Museveni has stayed silent on the matter.

Karadi is already in the electorate canvassing for support.

“We are in a by-election to make sure that we win that position that fell vacant following the departure of Hon. Ssegirnya. Right now, Kawempe North is an orphan in Parliament; we have a thirst for government services, we are hungry, and you know that when you are hungry, you run to your mother. I vow to be the mother for Kawempe and quench that thirst. I request your support in this byelection; let no one else change you,” Karadi said.

In 2021, Nambi was also given the NRM flag to contest against opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Shamim Malende for Kampala Woman MP.

Nambi now replaces Tom Fisher Kasenge, who held the NRM flag in the 2021 general elections but was defeated by Muhammadi Ssegirinya.

On the opposition side, various candidates, including lawyer Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, have submitted their documents to the NUP seeking party flag.

The Kawempe North MP by-election will be held on March 13, 2025.