Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, daughter of former Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and the current Mawogola North Member of Parliament, has announced her withdrawal from the upcoming National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries, paving the way for President Yoweri Museveni’s younger brother, Godfrey Aine Kaguta—popularly known as Sodo—to vie for the party’s flag in the 2026 parliamentary race.
Speaking to journalists shortly after his nomination last Thursday, Sodo confirmed that he had received President Museveni’s go-ahead to contest.
“I talked to President Museveni, and he agreed. He knows I’m going to run for Mawogola North,” he said.
Sodo also recalled stepping down from the race in 2021 on the President’s advice. “Back then, he told me, ‘Let Hon. Shartsi go through this time, but next time, you can come back.’ So now, as I promised the people of Mawogola North, I am returning.”
Musherure made her withdrawal official on Sunday morning, ending months of speculation over a possible rematch between the two political relatives—a contest that, in 2021, spiralled into one of the most violent and divisive battles in the NRM’s internal politics.
The 2021 primaries, triggered by Kutesa’s retirement from Parliament, saw Musherure and Sodo locked in a bitter showdown, marred by ballot stuffing, clashes between rival supporters, multiple arrests, and heavy security deployment.
The crisis eventually prompted President Museveni to intervene personally, summoning both camps to State House in Entebbe. Sodo agreed to pull out of the race, leaving Musherure to claim the NRM ticket and ultimately win the parliamentary seat.
This time around, however, Musherure’s decision to step aside has cleared a largely uncontested path for Sodo, who expressed confidence in a peaceful campaign. “What happened in 2021 won’t happen again. I’m going to win the primaries,” he assured.
With no official challenger in sight as of now, Sodo appears poised to secure the NRM nomination for Mawogola North—unless a new contender emerges before the close of nominations.
It remains unclear whether Musherure will contest as an independent or exit elective politics entirely. In her Sunday statement, she thanked constituents for the opportunity to serve in the 11th Parliament, offering no hints about her political future.
