Abaho Badru Joins National Race, Eyes NRM Youth Finance Seat with Vision For Empowerment

In a move that signals a fresh wave of youth-driven leadership within Uganda’s ruling party, Abaho Badru a staunch mobilizer for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and a seasoned student leader has officially declared his candidacy for National Secretary for Finance in the NRM Youth League (2025–2030).

Launching his campaign under the slogan “Building Opportunity Together,” Badru brings a track record of financial stewardship and grassroots mobilization, positioning himself as a bridge between the party’s legacy and the aspirations of Uganda’s younger generation.

His journey to national politics is anchored in years of hands-on leadership. As Guild President of Kampala University (2019–2020), he championed student welfare and infrastructure development, while his tenure as Secretary for Finance at the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) saw him streamline budgets and advocate for fiscal transparency, a skill he now pledges to bring to the Youth League.

“The youth are not just beneficiaries; they are partners in governance,” Badru told The New Light Paper. “My mission is to ensure every shilling allocated to youth programs translates into tangible opportunities.”

His manifesto prioritizes four pillars: transparent financial systems, expanded access to capital, equitable resource distribution, and financial literacy programs, a nod to successful models like the Parish Development Model (PDM), which has lifted thousands out of poverty .

Badru’s bid arrives at a pivotal moment for the NRM, as the party grapples with internal dynamics around youth mobilization and succession debates.

The Office of the National Chairman (ONC), led by Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, has recently intensified efforts to rally Bazzukulu (grandchildren) behind Museveni’s 2026 re-election, dismissing opposition calls for a transition as premature.

Badru’s campaign aligns with this momentum, blending loyalty to the party’s leadership with a push for institutional reform. “The Youth League must be a powerhouse for Uganda’s next generation of entrepreneurs,” he asserted, echoing sentiments recently voiced by fellow NRM youth aspirant Angwech Pamella Engola, who is vying for a divisional finance role in Lira .

Yet his vision extends beyond rhetoric. Drawing parallels to Museveni’s emphasis on wealth creation, Badru highlights the need to digitize Youth League operations, a move akin to Engola’s proposed “Youth Financial Support Hub” and to amplify partnerships with initiatives like Emyooga.

“We’ve seen how structured support transforms lives,” he said, referencing Kamwenge’s coffee farmers, who shifted from subsistence maize to lucrative coffee production under government guidance .

As the NRM navigates early campaign tensions with party officials cautioning against premature mobilization Badru’s candidacy tests the balance between grassroots energy and institutional discipline.

His message to the Bazzukulu is unequivocal: “President Museveni remains our best bet for stability, but the Youth League must evolve to meet today’s challenges.”

With a blend of pragmatism and idealism, Badru’s campaign could redefine what it means to be both a mobilizer and a reformer in Uganda’s political landscape.