A fresh political storm has erupted around Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), following reports that her presidential security detail has been withdrawn amid an escalating public disagreement with supporters of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Namyalo, who is also a Senior Presidential Advisor to President Yoweri Museveni, is reported to have lost her Police Presidential Guard (PPG) security detail as tensions deepen over competing political positions on the 2031 succession. The reported withdrawal comes barely two days after Namyalo’s ONC team in Bugisu publicly endorsed President Museveni’s continued leadership beyond 2031 during World Tourism Day celebrations in Mbale.
The development has triggered a sharp response from leaders of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), which is conducting a nationwide mobilisation campaign in support of Gen. Muhoozi’s presidential ambitions for 2031. Sources within the security establishment, however, have not publicly confirmed who ordered the withdrawal or explained the circumstances surrounding the change in Namyalo’s security arrangements.
Security withdrawn
According to sources cited in reports on Tuesday, security personnel attached to Namyalo were withdrawn following the latest clash between her camp and PLU leaders. The reports have linked the development to the increasingly open disagreement between Namyalo and senior PLU officials over the succession question.
Namyalo’s reported loss of security comes at a politically sensitive moment, with PLU stepping up its endorsement campaign for Muhoozi across the country. The PLU has maintained that its chairman will contest the presidency in 2031, while insisting that its political aspirations will be pursued through the National Resistance Movement (NRM). PLU General Secretary Fadil Twalla recently reiterated the position, saying Gen. Muhoozi would be on the ballot in 2031 and that President Museveni would be his chief campaigner.
Namyalo challenges Muhoozi
The latest confrontation follows remarks attributed to Namyalo during a rally in Mbale where President Museveni was present. Namyalo challenged Muhoozi and his supporters to follow the constitutional and political process if they wanted to seek the presidency.
“Uganda is not a monarchy. We have our President who is serving another term up to 2031 and after which we will still front him. Muhoozi and PLU are misguided and disturbing NRM,” Namyalo said, according to reports of the Mbale event.
Her comments came as her ONC Bugisu team displayed banners endorsing Museveni’s continued leadership beyond 2031. The team said its position was based on what it described as Museveni’s contribution to development and youth programmes. The endorsement was interpreted by PLU leaders as running counter to their ongoing mobilisation for Muhoozi.
Kabanda fires back
Daudi Kabanda, head of the PLU Chairman’s Office, responded sharply to Namyalo. “Namyalo please stop it. Hajjat, you are crossing the red line,” Kabanda said in a message directed at the ONC chief.
Kabanda has been one of the prominent figures mobilising support for Muhoozi’s 2031 presidential bid. Earlier this month, he confirmed that Muhoozi would seek the presidency in 2031 and said the decision had been sanctioned by President Museveni. The PLU has since expanded its endorsement campaign, with structures collecting signatures and organising regional activities in support of Muhoozi.
Twalla warns Namyalo
Twalla also issued a strongly worded statement directed at Namyalo. He reminded her that PLU had previously worked with the NRM under the Tuko Pamoja arrangement to support Museveni and other NRM candidates.
Twalla said PLU had continued to work for unity despite what he described as previous provocations. He then drew a line between the previous arrangement and the 2031 political contest. “Gen. Muhoozi, our PLU Chairman, will be on the ballot in 2031, and according to him, the Father of the Nation, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa, will be his chief campaigner,” Twalla said.
He accused Namyalo’s camp of engaging in what he called “unsanctioned” political activities and urged her to stop what he described as attempts to confuse Ugandans. “Let the future not remember you among those who fought against its existence,” Twalla warned. The statement has further exposed the increasingly public differences between sections of the NRM establishment as competing groups position themselves ahead of 2031.
A widening political faultline
The disagreement is no longer confined to private conversations within the ruling establishment. PLU has openly launched an endorsement campaign for Muhoozi, with endorsement exercises being rolled out across the country. The organisation says it remains a civic organisation and that its political aspirations will be pursued through the NRM.
The campaign has attracted support from politicians, business figures and other public personalities, while several leaders have publicly endorsed Muhoozi for 2031. At the same time, Namyalo’s ONC continues to operate as the office supporting Museveni in his capacity as NRM National Chairman.
The official ONC website identifies Namyalo as head of the office and says its mandate is to support the NRM National Chairman in implementing the party’s principles, policies and programmes.
This institutional role has placed Namyalo at the centre of the latest dispute over the future direction of the NRM. For now, the reported withdrawal of her security detail has added another dramatic dimension to the public confrontation. Neither the UPDF nor the Police has publicly explained the reported security changes or confirmed that they were connected to Namyalo’s political statements.
The development therefore leaves unanswered questions about who authorised the withdrawal, whether the decision is permanent and what security arrangements will replace the personnel who previously guarded the ONC chief. What began as a disagreement over political endorsements has now moved into the arena of security, further intensifying scrutiny of the increasingly visible succession debate within the ruling establishment.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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