Buyela Christopher Launches Bid for NRM Eastern Region Leadership Amid Calls for Party Renewal

Mbale, Uganda – The political landscape in Eastern Uganda shifted this week as Buyela Christopher, a longtime NRM stalwart, formally declared his candidacy for the ruling party’s Vice Chairperson position in the Eastern Region. His campaign, framed as a bridge between the party’s revolutionary past and its future, struck a chord with delegates gathered at a packed rally in Mbale, where he invoked the sacrifices of NRM’s founders while demanding greater inclusivity for marginalized voices within the movement.

“We stand on the shoulders of those who fought for this revolution,” Buyela told the crowd, his speech punctuated by cheers from veterans seated near the podium. “But a tree cannot grow if its roots are neglected. Today, I ask: Where is the place for our youth, our women, and the mobilizers who have kept this party alive in villages?” His message, titled Standing on Shoulders of Sacrifice, wove together nostalgia for NRM’s liberation struggle with sharp critiques of its current trajectory, particularly what he described as the sidelining of grassroots organizers and aging freedom fighters.

The timing of Buyela’s bid reflects simmering tensions within NRM’s regional politics. Eastern Uganda, a key stronghold for the party, has seen escalating debates over resource allocation and representation, with younger members increasingly vocal about generational change. Buyela’s platform attempts to straddle these divides. He pointed to Uganda’s youth demographic—78% of the population—as an untapped reservoir of energy for the party, while also vowing to push for better welfare programs for veterans. “Loyalty must be reciprocal,” he asserted. “If someone spent their youth in the bush fighting for this movement, their old age shouldn’t be spent fighting for a pension.”

Women’s representation emerged as another focal point. Despite comprising the backbone of NRM’s electoral machinery at the grassroots, women remain scarce in top regional leadership roles—a disparity Buyela pledged to address. “Our mothers and sisters are the ones knocking on doors during campaigns,” he said. “Why must they knock twice as hard to be heard in our meetings?” The remarks drew applause from female delegates, some of whom later told reporters they viewed his candidacy as a litmus test for the party’s commitment to reform.

Reaction to the announcement has been cautiously optimistic among NRM ranks. “He’s speaking to frustrations many of us have whispered about for years,” said one sub-county chairperson from Budaka, who asked not to be named. “But the real question is whether the system will allow such a message to translate into action.” Others were more skeptical, noting that calls for inclusivity are common during internal elections but often fade after votes are cast.

The NRM’s Eastern Region leadership race is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, with at least two other candidates rumored to be preparing bids. Analysts suggest Buyela’s emphasis on unity and historical legacy could distinguish him in a field where patronage networks often decide outcomes. “This isn’t just about a position,” he concluded in his speech. “It’s about restoring the soul of our party—for the veterans who built it, the youth who will inherit it, and every member who believes the revolution must evolve to endure.”

As the party gears up for its leadership elections, Buyela’s campaign may prove a bellwether for whether NRM can reconcile its revolutionary origins with the demands of a changing Uganda. For now, his declaration has succeeded in one respect: reigniting a conversation about who the movement serves—and who gets to lead it.