The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has disqualified Daudi Ruhinda Magulu from contesting for the party’s presidential flag bearer position, citing a lack of requisite qualifications.
Magulu, a familiar face in NRM political circles, has long been a vocal contender for the party’s top seat, famously challenging the status quo.
His first brush with national attention came in 2010 when he filed a court petition to stop President Yoweri Museveni from becoming the NRM flag bearer — a bid that ultimately failed.
Again in 2020, he picked nomination forms with ambitions to lead the ruling party, but his campaign didn’t take off.
This latest dismissal effectively ends his third attempt at the NRM presidency and raises questions about the internal dynamics and vetting criteria used by the party’s electoral commission.
The announcement came amid a wet and symbolic backdrop, as senior NRM leaders, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, defied the heavy downpour to file their nominations for key positions within the Central Executive Committee (CEC). Their determination stood in stark contrast to Magulu’s exclusion, underscoring the seriousness with which the NRM is treating this election cycle.
Observers say this move could signal a tightening of internal controls by the party’s leadership to streamline its electoral processes ahead of the 2026 general elections.
With Magulu now officially out of the race, the stage appears set for a more controlled and predictable contest for the NRM presidential ticket—one that may once again see President Museveni reaffirmed at the helm of a party he has led for nearly four decades.
