Kampala, Uganda: State House has dismissed circulating reports claiming that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, Ministers Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, and Gen. Jim Muhwezi to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) under the “historicals” category. Officials insist no such appointments have been made.
In a statement issued Friday, February 6, Senior Press Secretary to the President, Mr. Sandor Lyle Walusimbi, described the claims as inaccurate and premature. He emphasized that no official communication regarding the NRM’s top decision-making body has been released.
“Reports suggesting that H.E. the President has appointed individuals to the CEC as ‘historicals’ are false,” Walusimbi said via X, formerly Twitter. “Any official announcement will be communicated to the public through the proper channels.”
The rumors had suggested that the three senior party figures were being recognized as historicals—a status traditionally reserved for individuals who played major roles in Uganda’s liberation struggle or have had long-standing influence within the party. Such appointments are always closely watched for the signals they send about internal party dynamics.
The NRM CEC serves as the party’s highest decision-making organ, responsible for defining strategy, endorsing candidates, supervising party structures, and ensuring alignment between party policies and government programs. Changes to this committee often attract attention because they hint at power shifts and succession planning within the ruling party.
Political analysts note that any alteration in the historicals category could influence both party direction and individual prominence within the NRM. With speculation rife, media reports about potential appointments quickly sparked debate among party supporters and political watchers alike.
As of this report, the NRM secretariat had not issued any counter-statement, leaving the matter unresolved in public discourse. Party members are advised to rely on official State House communication to avoid spreading unverified information.
With major political milestones approaching, scrutiny of the NRM’s internal structures is expected to grow. For now, State House has made it clear: no appointments have been made, and rumors linking Kadaga, Otafiire, and Muhwezi to new CEC roles are baseless.
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