The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has dismissed claims that some participants were blocked from attending the ongoing parliamentary caucus retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
NRM spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo clarified that no directive was issued to bar any attendees. He explained that independent Members of Parliament-elect aligned to the party were only required to register in advance to enable proper logistical planning by the party secretariat.
Dombo’s remarks were in response to claims by State Minister Persis Namuganza, who had earlier alleged that she needed intervention from Yoweri Museveni to access the retreat.
The week-long caucus retreat is aimed at inducting newly elected MPs, aligning legislators with the NRM manifesto, outlining government priorities, and strengthening unity and cohesion within the party following the recent general elections.
Dombo maintained that the registration process is standard procedure and dismissed allegations of exclusion as misleading, emphasizing that all eligible NRM-affiliated legislators are welcome as long as they follow the required coordination guidelines.
The incident, however, points to underlying tensions within party ranks, even as the retreat seeks to reinforce discipline and consolidate the legislative agenda for the new parliamentary term.
