President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Major General (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, Ms Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, and Major General (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as historicals.
The appointments signal a strategic move to strengthen the party’s leadership, cohesion, and institutional memory. Although the appointments are yet to be officially communicated, security sources confirmed the development.
The Central Executive Committee (CEC) is the highest decision-making organ of the NRM. It oversees party policy, guides leadership decisions, endorses candidates for elections, and ensures alignment with national priorities. Its resolutions significantly influence both government policy and party operations at all levels.
Kahinda Otafiire: From guerrilla fighter to political strategist
Major General (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, born on December 29, 1950, in Bushenyi (now Mitooma) District, joined the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1981 and served as Chief Political Commissar during the liberation struggle. He was also a member of the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA), a rebel movement formed in the early 1970s by Yoweri Museveni that played a critical role in the 1979 war alongside Tanzanian forces to overthrow President Idi Amin.
Since 1986, Otafiire has held several key ministerial positions, including Local Government; Justice and Constitutional Affairs; Lands, Housing and Urban Development; East African Affairs; and Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. He also served as Director General of the External Security Organisation. He is currently the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Member of Parliament for Ruhinda County. His appointment to the CEC recognises his extensive contribution to the NRM and his continued influence in defence, security, and party strategy.
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga: Veteran legislator and trailblazing Speaker
Ms Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, born on May 24, 1956, in Kamuli District, has served in Parliament since 1989, first entering the August House as a member of the National Resistance Council (NRC). This makes her Uganda’s longest-serving legislator.
She made history as Uganda’s first female Speaker of Parliament, serving from 2011 to 2021. She currently serves as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs. Kadaga has played a pivotal role in legislative leadership, international parliamentary relations, and the advancement of women’s participation in governance. Her appointment to the CEC cements her status among the NRM’s most experienced leaders. She is the outgoing First Female Vice Chairperson of the NRM, having been defeated by the current Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, in the recent ballot.
Jim Muhwezi: Security architect and party stalwart
Major General (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi, born on August 23, 1950, in Rukungiri District, is a lawyer and retired military officer who joined the NRA during the liberation struggle. He has previously served as Director General of the Internal Security Organisation, Minister of Health, Minister of Information and National Guidance, and currently serves as Minister of Security. He is also the Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County.
Muhwezi’s inclusion in the CEC acknowledges his long-standing contribution to national security and service to the party. He previously served on the CEC as Chairperson of the Veterans League but was later defeated by Lt. (Rtd) Moses Mushabe.
Role of the Central Executive Committee
The CEC is composed of senior party leaders, including regional vice chairpersons, national secretaries, and heads of party commissions. It is responsible for providing political leadership, formulating and implementing party policy, selecting flag bearers, and supervising party programmes. The committee ensures the effective execution of the NRM’s strategic priorities across both government and party structures.
The inclusion of Otafiire, Kadaga, and Muhwezi is expected to reinforce unity, preserve institutional memory, and strengthen strategic decision-making as the NRM navigates key national priorities.
 Kahinda Otafiire, Ms Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, and Major General (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as historicals, Eagle Online has exclusively learnt.){kind=link}