RUKUNGIRI, Uganda — Tension is rising in Rukungiri District after dozens of National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilizers reportedly turned against the Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture and Local People, Peace Rugambwa, accusing her of failing to pay them campaign allowances amounting to Shs200 million.
The angry mobilizers allege that Rugambwa personally approached them during political mobilization activities and assured them that they would be financially facilitated for their work in support of President Yoweri Museveni.
According to the mobilizers, Rugambwa allegedly told them that she communicates directly with the President on a daily basis and had been assigned to coordinate local mobilization efforts aimed at strengthening support for Museveni ahead of the elections.
The group claims they carried out various campaign activities on the understanding that payment would later be made to them.
However, the mobilizers now accuse the presidential advisor of abandoning them after the work was completed.
Several of the aggrieved mobilizers allege that Rugambwa has since switched off or changed her known telephone contacts, making it difficult for them to reach her.
Reports circulating in the district indicate that the advisor has allegedly gone into hiding for fear of being confronted or attacked by the furious mobilizers demanding their money.
Some of the mobilizers have threatened to publicly expose what they describe as “false promises and exploitation” if the money is not paid.
The reported dispute has sparked debate within local NRM circles, with some party supporters calling for intervention from senior party leaders to calm the situation before it escalates further.
By press time, Rugambwa had not publicly commented on the allegations, and it remained unclear whether the claimed Shs200 million had officially been allocated for the mobilization activities.
Local leaders in Rukungiri are reportedly monitoring the situation closely amid fears that tensions among party supporters could intensify.
