Business grinds to a halt as NRM's Birungi secures Lyantonde nomination

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Dr Doreen Birungi Katushabe, the NRM party flag bearer for the Lyantonde district Woman MP race and wife to former Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) boss Gen. James Birungi, brought business in Lyantonde Town to a standstill after her nomination by the Electoral Commission.

Birungi, who defeated incumbent Woman MP Pauline Kemirembe and Deborah Rwabwogo, a sister to senior presidential advisor on special duties Odrek Rwabwogo, in the NRM party primaries, was nominated on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the EC offices. Thousands of her supporters took to the streets of Lyantonde, paralysing business along the Mbarara Highway and across the town for nearly an hour.

Meanwhile, the NRM party vice chairperson, Moses Kigongo, arrived in Lyantonde to intervene in a dispute between the party and Deborah Rwabwogo, who had decided to stand as an NRM-leaning independent candidate without first resigning from her position as the district NRM party chairperson, as required.

Kigongo instructed Rwabwogo not to proceed with nominations before handing over the party office, a development that sparked excitement among Doreen Birungi’s supporters.

Accompanied by her father, Robert Katushabe, Birungi led a procession from the EC offices to the Lyantonde district headquarters, where supporters, braving the scorching sun, marched for over two kilometres on foot, chanting slogans in praise of President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling party.

Efforts by some security personnel to stop them were futile.

Birungi later addressed the crowd at the district headquarters, where she thanked President Museveni for supporting the people of Lyantonde and enabling her to make several achievements for the district.

"It is because of the support and empowerment from President Museveni and the NRM government that I have been able to make visible constructive projects for the people that have empowered me to appreciate my area," she said.

Birungi has constructed over 20 dams to address water stress and drought challenges affecting the people of Lyantonde.