NRM LIBERATION DAY KABALE: DSC to Revisit Earlier Resolution on Battle for Municipal Stadium

The Kabale District Security Committee (DSC) is set to convene again this week, on Wednesday, to revisit its earlier resolution regarding the ongoing dispute over the use of Kabale Municipal Stadium on January 26, 2025.

The conflict pits the Office of NRM Kabale District against the Kabale District Football Association (KADFA), with both entities vying for control of the stadium.

The ongoing controversy has sparked heated debates, primarily on Kabale-based radio stations and social media platforms, as individuals defend the entities involved in the dispute.

Recently, the Kabale Municipality Authorities penned a letter indicating that KADFA had paid for and booked the stadium ahead of the NRM Office, which subsequently sought permission to use the facility. The Town Clerk advised the NRM Office administration to choose an alternative venue.

This decision was followed by a District Security Committee meeting, led by Kabale RDC Godfrey Nyakahuma, which unanimously resolved to support the Kabale Municipal Authorities’ decision, citing the “first come, first serve” protocol.

The 22-member DSC, whose resolution was largely kept under wraps, reportedly based their decision on the Kabale Municipality Town Clerk’s letter, the Local Government Act, Public Finance Management Act, and consultations with Presidential Circulars and Protocol on national functions.

However, the following day, Kabale District NRM leaders convened a meeting at their office in Kabale town and resolved to defy the decisions made by both the Town Clerk and the Kabale District Security Committee. They argued that the NRM Liberation Day Celebrations must be held at the Kabale Municipal Stadium.

This was confirmed by the Kabale District NRM Spokesperson, Edison Turyahabwa, alias Political, while speaking on a Kabale-based radio station.

“The whole country knows that during the NRM Liberation struggle, there were FRONASA (NRA) heroes who were publicly executed by Idi Amin’s Government in Kabale Municipal Stadium, and a monument has been built in the stadium in honor of the deceased. We cannot celebrate our day in any other place,” Mr. Turyahabwa stated.

In a surprising turn of events, a credible source, who is a member of the security committee and preferred anonymity, intimated to us that, following the NRM leaders’ meeting and resolution to defy the guidelines set by the Authorities, the DSC has decided to reconvene on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, to revisit its earlier resolution on the matter.

“We have been notified that the NRM Office Organizing Committee has already laid out strategies that involve ferrying over 2,000 people from different sub-counties, bringing them to Kabale Municipal Stadium to watch President Museveni speaking from Mubende, on the NRM Liberation Day. They are also planning to carry out a number of activities that require careful analysis before we make the next pronouncement on this matter,” the source revealed.

January 26 marks the day when the National Resistance Army, led by Gen. Yoweri Museveni, ascended to power, toppling the UPC Government and ushering in the longest-serving regime in Ugandan history. Since 1986, January 26 has been celebrated as NRM Liberation Day under the NRM Government.

Despite this year’s national celebrations being held in Mubende District, various groups in Kabale District have decided to hold mini-celebrations, largely influenced by the ongoing political season, in which individuals are seeking to occupy or retain their political positions.

Names that have constantly been mentioned in this fracas include Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha, the Wakiso DRDC, who doubles as Kabale District NRM Youth League Chairman and NRM’s Kabale Municipality MP flag bearer; former Kabale Municipality MP Andrew Ajja Baryayanga; and State Minister of Industry David Bahati, who is also the Ndorwa West MP and NRM Chairperson Kabale District.

Both Baryayanga and Kamugisha have declared interest in contesting again for the Kabale Municipality MP seat, currently held by FDC’s Dr. Nicholas Kamara, while Bahati faces stiff competition from Baryayanga, who also seeks to contest for Chairperson NRM Kabale District.

The next NRM Primary election to choose MPs is scheduled for August 2025, while the general election will take place in January 2026.

This website will continue to provide updates on the developments surrounding the battle for Kabale Municipal Stadium as they unfold, up to th NRM Liberation Day on January 26, 2025.