TOP STORY: Kasolo Unveils Unity-Driven Strategy After Crushing Karangwa in NRM Buganda CEC Race
August 30, 2025
In his first major public address since his decisive win over Moses Karangwa in the hotly contested race for NRM Vice Chairman for Buganda, Hajji Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo has wasted no time outlining his vision, strategy, and next steps — all aimed at revitalizing the ruling party’s dominance in Buganda.
Speaking with confidence and clarity, Kasolo struck a tone of inclusivity, humility, and urgency — recognizing both the magnitude of the challenge ahead and the need for collective effort to reclaim Buganda from opposition grip, particularly from NUP, which swept the region in 2021.
“I know what must be done. But I can’t do it alone,” said Kasolo, pledging to build bridges, promote teamwork, and embrace all voices — including those of his rivals — in the push to secure a strong showing for NRM and President Museveni come 2026.
A Call for Unity and Reconciliation
Kasolo extended a public olive branch to his rival Moses Karangwa, who has yet to concede or publicly recognize Kasolo’s victory. But Kasolo emphasized that personal differences must now give way to party unity.
“Karangwa still has a lot to offer. The campaign season is over — now it’s time to lead, to work, and to win together,” Kasolo noted.
He also paid tribute to outgoing vice chair Godfrey Kiwanda, and to fellow CEC contenders Joseph Mukasa Sewava and Hakim Kyeswa, both of whom stepped down in his favor at the last minute — a move widely seen as a game-changer in the final hours before the vote at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
Kasolo has already mapped out key roles for the trio: Kiwanda to lead reconciliation efforts between primary winners and losers; Kyeswa to spearhead youth mobilization; and Sewava to help build bridges in areas still politically divided.
Action Starts This Weekend
Determined to hit the ground running, Kasolo will this Sunday (August 31) attend a high-profile ‘Buganda for Museveni’ rally in Bukomansimbi — the first major mobilization since the CEC elections concluded. He confirmed that this will mark the beginning of an aggressive, coordinated rollout of campaign efforts across the region.
“What we’re launching isn’t new — it complements ongoing mobilization under the Buganda for Museveni campaign. We are all pulling in the same direction,” Kasolo explained.
Africana Consultative Summit
Arguably the centerpiece of his early action plan is a consultative mega-meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 4th at Hotel Africana, Kampala. All newly elected NRM flag bearers for MP and LC5 seats in Buganda have been invited — along with the very candidates they defeated in the primaries.
The goal: reconciliation, mutual respect, and strategy alignment to avoid independent candidacies that could split the NRM vote and hand victories to the opposition.
“That meeting will be about listening, healing, and building consensus. If we don’t carry everyone along, we lose Buganda again. And that’s not an option,” Kasolo said, adding that this would be just the first of many such engagements.
Another major rally is set for Mukono on Sunday, September 7th — part of a regional tour to energize the NRM base and build momentum toward 2026.
Fixing 2021 Mistakes: Land Justice Takes Center Stage
Kasolo admitted that the NRM’s 2021 defeat in Buganda was due in part to long-standing grievances — most notably land-related injustices. In response, he announced the formation of special committees to combat land grabbing and exploitation, with each Buganda zone assigned a dedicated team of senior NRM officials.
“This problem of land injustices will be confronted head-on. No more leaving citizens to suffer in silence while a few individuals exploit them with impunity,” Kasolo promised.
The move will also support State Lands Minister Dr. Sam Mayanja, who has been a lone voice battling land grabbers over the past four years.
Reactivating Village-Level Power
Kasolo also plans to revitalize NRM’s grassroots structures — specifically the 30-member committees in every village. By re-engaging them, he believes the party can mobilize a massive block vote for Museveni and NRM candidates.
“These leaders have families, followers, and communities they influence. If we engage them directly, listen, and solve their issues — we can deliver a landslide,” he said.
Looking Ahead: The Mission Is Clear
With confidence and clarity, Kasolo is positioning himself as the unifying face of the NRM in Buganda — a region critical to the party’s national prospects.
He acknowledges the weight of expectations, the urgency of time, and the need to do politics differently.
“It won’t be easy, but it’s possible. I know how NRM can recapture Buganda — and I’m going to lead that charge,” he declared.
As the 2026 election clock ticks down, Kasolo’s actions in the coming weeks will be closely watched — not just by the NRM faithful, but by a country curious to see whether this new leadership style can turn the tide in Uganda’s most politically volatile region.
