Uganda: Karuhanga Returns to Parliament On Inclusivity, Voter Vigilance and Calmer Polls in Ntungamo Municipality

A mix of political inclusivity, voter vigilance, improved security and comparisons of past leadership records propelled Gerald Karuhanga back to Parliament as the Member of Parliament for Ntungamo Municipality in the January 15, 2026, general elections.

Karuhanga, a former Alliance for National Transformation spokesperson, returned to elective politics as an Independent candidate in a constituency widely regarded as a stronghold of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

His campaign deliberately sought to broaden appeal beyond traditional party lines, at times featuring posters of President Museveni during campaign activities.

According to Karuhanga, the approach was calculated to reflect the political realities of the area.

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"This area is predominantly NRM and we had to be very keen on being inclusive and more embracing so that we are not seen as extremist on one side," he said.

Reflecting on the electoral process, Karuhanga described the polls as difficult but calmer than previous elections in the municipality, which have often been marked by chaos and violence.

"It's been a tough process like most elections are. It was not so loud, not as chaotic as before. However, we saw signs of violence and, unfortunately, some people were beaten and tortured. Much of it was preempted. We appreciate the security forces and the military for the calm process," he said, adding that his team remains committed to serving the country.

Ntungamo Municipality has a history of election-related violence, with tensions escalating particularly after the NRM primaries ahead of the 2026 general elections.

During those primaries, baton groups and physical confrontations erupted at polling stations, leaving incumbent MP Yona Musinguzi seriously injured and raising fears of a repeat during the general polls.

Karuhanga attributed his victory to a campaign anchored in volunteerism and service delivery.

"It was a well-consulted effort from a team that committed and sacrificed. It was a selfless campaign, with people fully volunteering. We ran our campaign on voluntary spirit and service delivery," he said.

Having previously represented Ntungamo Municipality in Parliament, Karuhanga believes voters assessed his earlier term against the performance of the incumbent before making their decision.

"We had previously served this place and people were able to compare the circumstances. Many felt I did much better than the sitting MP," he noted.

Official results show that Karuhanga secured 3,967 votes, defeating Musinguzi of the NRM, who polled 2,824 votes.

The outcome marked another turn in a long-running rivalry between the two politicians.

Musinguzi first lost the seat to Karuhanga in 2016 before reclaiming it in the 2021 elections, setting the stage for a closely watched rematch in 2026.

Beyond the numbers, Karuhanga pledged to end the cycle of election violence that has repeatedly plagued the municipality.

"We also pledge that we shall end violence in elections here in Ntungamo. My coming will be a seal against violence in elections here. We had seen a pattern of violence, all stemming from one individual," he said.

Political observers say Karuhanga's decision to contest as an Independent was a turning point in the race.

Perez Rumanzi, who also contested in Ntungamo Municipality in 2021, said shedding a clear opposition label helped lower political tensions.

"De-associating himself from the opposition reduced violence in the election of Ntungamo Municipality.

"High voter turnout and the division of polling stations from 19 to 38 also facilitated Karuhanga's win," Rumanzi said.

Political analyst Edward Natamba similarly noted that running as an Independent enabled Karuhanga to attract cross-party support.

"Ntungamo is dominantly NRM. In 2021, when he came under ANT, every citizen knew he belonged to another party. This time, as an Independent, he had supporters from NRM and other parties," Natamba said.

Natamba also pointed to improved security deployment and vigilance at polling stations as decisive factors.

"This time round, Gerald Karuhanga had security and was vigilant, with people guarding his vote. There was no ballot stuffing in the municipality," he said, adding that voters ultimately weighed performance records.

"The incumbent had not done much according to his manifesto, but after five years, people had to compare."