The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has officially welcomed Kisoro Woman MP Hon. Grace Ngabirano Akifeza after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work with the party.
Ngabirano, who won the Kisoro district seat in a highly contested by-election last month as an independent candidate, replaces the late Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, who passed away in September.
The signing ceremony, held at the NRM party headquarters, was witnessed by Government Chief Whip Hon. Hamson Obua and Kisoro legislators. Rt. Hon. Rose Namayanja Nsereko, the NRM Deputy Secretary General, congratulated Ngabirano on her victory and welcomed her back to the party fold.
“I thank you for accepting to associate with the NRM. This MoU grants you all the privileges of NRM members, including participation in party activities,” Namayanja stated.
She clarified that while Ngabirano will work closely with the NRM, Rose Kabagyeni remains the official party flagbearer until fresh party primaries are held. Namayanja also revealed that similar MoUs have been signed with independent LC5 chairpersons across the country, reaffirming NRM’s strategy of consolidating its base.
Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua commended Ngabirano’s decision, emphasizing that the law allows independent MPs to associate with a political party without losing their independent status. “Ngabirano has chosen to work with NRM while enjoying all the benefits of our members,” Obua said.
An emotional Ngabirano expressed gratitude to her voters and the NRM leadership. “I feel like a lost child who has been found. I grew up knowing the NRM as my home, and I am overwhelmed to be back,” she said.
Ngabirano pledged to work with the NRM leadership to fulfill her mandate and serve the people of Kisoro.
The signing comes at a time when the NRM is finalizing its party register digitization, a process aimed at streamlining party operations across the country.