The rise of musician cum politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has put the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party on edge.
Sources in the party reveal that the establishment did not foresee Bobi Wini’s rise to happen the way it has unfolded.
“They thought it would be the usual Besigye politics of making noise and later losing at the ballot. But the way Bobi was captured international attention has left many in the party trying close loose ends,” the source revealed.
In a bid to close those loose ends, the party is banking on a number of ‘influential youths’ in the party who have previously mobilized support for the president in his bid to maintain his stay in the most craved seat.
“These are the youth that the party sends out to mobilise support or try and concives others in the opposition that President Museveni still remains the future of the country,” the source added.
Today, we name these youths whose job not only involves mobilizing support for the party but also countering the supersonic rise of Bobi Wine.
GADDAFI NASUR
He is the chairperson of the NRM Youth League and one of the few who attend the famous Central Executive Committee (CEC) meetings that determine what narrative the party is to take on particular issues.
Gaddafi’s position means his main responsibility is to attend to youth affairs of the party and initiate strategy that can attract new young members to the ruling party.
The party got a scare last year after he and a number of other party youth leaders expressed their opposition to attempts by the NRM to do away with the presidential age limit during the controversial TOGIKWATAKO campaigns that saw parliament remove the presidential age cap from the constitution.
However, Gaddi and his colleagues reached a compromise with the party, another indication of the role he plays in the party structure.
DUNCAN ABIGABA
Duncan previously served as NRM Youth League Publicity Secretary before joining the president’s office as Advisor on Research, deputizing, Morrison Rwakakamba. Duncan led a chorus of bazukulu who gave People Power a hard time on social media as Bobi Wine’s case went global.
He has been appointed to deputize Awel Uwihangaye at the Government Citizens Interaction Center, an organ charged with engaging the public on various government programs and policy.
ANN RUYONDO
She was born to National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war hero, Lumumba Ruyondo. Ann who unsuccessfully contested for the National Female Youth MP seat in the previous elections is said to be one of the president’s most trusted mobilisers.
Despite growing up with a silver spoon, Ann always strives to make it on her own. Sources intimated to us that although she grew up under the care of Gen Saleh, she has demonstrated that she is capable like all entitled Ugandans to claim available opportunities without being linked to the state.
Her reserved nature has been taken to mean she is anti-social but contrary to that, Ann easily mingles with her peers no matter who they are and sources say this is the reason why Museveni believes in her ability to rightly mobilise for him.
ATROBRAS RUTAGYENGWA
He is the current NRM Chairperson of Luweero district, the Launchpad of Museveni’s guerrilla war that catapulted him into power in 1986.
Sources in Luweero say, Patrobas drinks and eats NRM and will do anything to defend the party wherever he is. He is known to be a kingmaker in the district that Museveni highly regards politically.
A lot is said about the Rutangengwa family in Luweero and its influence on the politics in the area. Pato as he is fondly known by his friends is said to have played a key role in the appointment of new Luweero district RDC, Phebe Namulindwa, the youngest and arguably cutest in the list of RDCs. However, his influence does not stop in Luweero as he is a common feature in the corridors of power in the city.
“Most NRM leaders in the district have either been groomed by him or given them his support but you will never see him as he prefers to remain behind curtains,” the source revealed.
He has been sited on several occasions in Ntinda, where he normally engages in political debate with friends to try and win them over.
KITATTA IBRAHIM
Born in Lwengo to Hon. Kitatta Abdu, Ibrahim is a graduate of IUIU and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at Makerere University. Kitatta who is believed to be around 37 years has remained in youth politics. Kitatta drives a Prado TX courtesy of Museveni and is one youth the party banks on to mobilise support in areas of Lwengo.
Kitatta who is not related to the incarcerated Kitatta is the secretary general of the National Youth Council.
The council is established under the National Youth Council Act and is composed of one representative from each district elected by the members of the district youth council; two student representatives elected by the Uganda National Students Association, one of whom is a female, ten female representatives elected by the conference from among the female members of the conference, at least two to represent a region.
AKAMPURIRA DAVIS
Born in Kabale, Akampurira is a graduate of Makerere University and served as Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Kavuma Samuel’s NYC executive. Having contested for Western Youth MP and lost to Maj. Bright Rwamirama’s son, Akampurira found his way into Museveni’s inner circle of youth influencers and is currently working underground. He is said to be close friends with Bank of Uganda Governor, Tumusiime Mutebile.
IAN GUMISIRIZA A.K.A RUTWIJI
Born in Kanungu, this muzukulu is a lawyer and one many say is good at engaging in political false flags. This youth who has interacted closely with top shots including; Lt. Gen. Tumukunde, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, PPS Molly Kamukama and former CMI Chief Brig. Bakahumura.
He was formerly in Amama Mbabazi’s camp where he rose to head the Western youth structure of Go Forward before he defected with all to the Museveni camp.
Ian is believed to be one of the highly facilitated Bazukulu. He recently penned a hard hitting missive to Jaja explaining how there was need to address youth issues if the party was to avoid losing them to Bobi Wine.
ANDERSON HERBERT BURORA
He was recently appointed Nakawa RCC and is known for his hard hitting posts on social media especially Facebook where he goes bare knuckles on the opposition.
Anderson hails from Wakiso and is one of the notorious spies that were activated to fight Mbabazi’s candidature through creating youth groups such as Concerned Citizens.
Burora who has been to Kyankwanzi like most NRM key members, is a constant feature on most radio and television talk shows where he preaches the NRM gospel. Burora reports directly to Museveni through PPS Molly Kamukama.
He once ran into trouble with Gender Ministry’s PS Pius Bigirimana and former IGP Kale Kayihura over his activism that appears to spare no one irrespective of political inclination. However, he appears to have reconciled with the two.
Many believe his RCC appointment was a gift of appreciation for the work he has done in defending the party on social media. He also featured on a list of supposed to do PR for the president on social media.
RWIGYEMA RONNIE
A graduate of Makerere university and currently pursuing a master’s degree at the same university. Little is known of Newton’s parent’s but he maintains a close relationship with Gen. Salim Saleh and Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Keinerugaba.
He prefers to remain underground, supporting party projects from behind the curtains, with sources saying that he sometimes injects his own dime to make sure Museveni-friendly candidates become leaders.
Our sources in the NRM told us that Rwigyema spends most of his time tending to his businesses when the political season is off.
PHOEBE NAMULINDWA
Many of her peers were recently shocked when they saw her on the recent Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) list. President Museveni made her Luweero district RDC replacing Alice Muwanguzi.
Phibby as she is fondly known hit headlines during the TOGIKWATAKO campaign when she led a group of youths in suggesting that the issue be subjected to a national debate.
She argued at the time, that President Yoweri is NRM’s “best candidate,” adding that the party should task its leaders to remind the population that he “founded the NRM and led it from victory to victory for more than 5 decades.”
Phibby sometimes features in the coveted presidential tent at functions where the CIC is present. Political minders say her appointment as RDC is a nod of approval by the president in her abilities. They add that it won’t be shocking if Phoebe is elevated to a ministerial post.
MORIS MUHINDO
M
uhindo has been described by the president as the tallest Mukonzho alive because of his height.
He hails from political hotspot, Kasese district and is the current Secretary General of the NRM Youth League. Morris is no stranger to politics. While at Makerere University, he unsuccessfully vied for the Guild Presidency seat on an NRM ticket.
His post in the party directly puts him in charge of mobilizing Bazukulu to support Jaja and ensure that his support base among the party’s young people is consolidated. Sources say the tallest Mukonzho is planning to contest a parliamentary seat in his home district in the next general election although this won’t be an easy task considering the district is has only opposition lawmakers.
FELIX KAYIHURA
He is also one of the NRM youth honchos who prefer to work hard and let their successes speak more. He is the current Secretary of the National Youth Council. Kayihura who was groomed by fallen comrades, Gen Aronda Nyakairima and Felix Kaweesi.
Kayihura who is not related to former police chief, Gen Kale Kayihura has just graduated with a masters in Oil and Gas from Uganda Christian University in Mukono.
He cut his political niche during his high school days where he was a constant member of the student’s council. He would later join Nkumba University where he served as guild president. Sources have also intimated to us that his nod of approval means a lot if one is to win an election.
Although he attends most youth meetings with the president, he rarely appears in the photo ops with Museveni.
LILIAN ABER
Aber is presidential Advisor on Youth Affairs and serves as the chairperson of the national youth council. After her election, she remarked, “We are going to be felt in all issues regarding the youth. Being the first female youth chairperson I would like to leave a legacy of great work. It is time to work and have youth issues addressed by the government at all level.”
True to her word, the council has felt her leadership to the extent that some accuse her of making the organ partisan.
OMUKIGA BRENDA
Brenda Kiconco is at most political events and most youth gatherings and it is this character that has distinguished her as a formidable mobiliser.
In addition to attending the mentioned events, Brenda is a soccer enthusiast who rarely misses Uganda Cranes matches.
Brenda Omukiga as her friends call her has been cited on several campaigns of NRM bigwigs because of her skills in galvanizing support.