By Kyotaite Muhussein
Bugiri and the broader Busoga sub-region, long accustomed to the formidable political presence of figures like Justine Kasule Lumumba, are now witnessing a compelling recalibration of power.
A new architect is meticulously laying bricks, and his name, Solomon Silwany, echoes with increasing resonance across the political landscape, suggesting a torch has quietly, but decisively, passed hands.
For years, the political narrative of Bugiri and indeed much of Busoga was often narrated through the lens of Justine Kasule Lumumba. A seasoned politician, her career trajectory was nothing short of meteoric.
From serving as the Women’s Representative for Bugiri District in Parliament since 2001, she ascended to the influential position of Chief Government Whip, a strategic conduit between the Executive and the Legislature.
Her zenith arrived with her appointment as the Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in 2014, a role that cemented her as a political titan, a veritable high priestess of the party’s machinery, wielding immense influence across the nation.
Her voice carried the weight of the party, her presence a magnet for political activity, and her camp, once an undisputed bastion of power in Bugiri, seemed unassailable.
However, the winds of political fortune are ever-fickle, and the current whisper on the ground suggests a new breeze, strong and purposeful, is now blowing from Bukooli County Central, championed by the diligent Solomon Silwany.
While Lumumba transitioned into a cabinet role as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (General Duties) in 2021, a significant national appointment, the pulse of grassroots influence in her former political heartland appears to have shifted.
Solomon Silwany, the Member of Parliament for Bukooli County Central, is not merely rising; he is demonstrably consolidating power with the quiet precision of a master craftsman.
His ascent to the Parliamentary Commission, the highest decision-making organ of Parliament, speaks volumes of his growing clout within the legislative arm. This is no mere backbencher; he is now a hand guiding the legislative compass.
But it is his strategic actions on the ground that truly paint the picture of a dominant force. Silwany has invested not just in political rhetoric, but in tangible symbols of party strength and presence.
The recently commissioned NRM Party offices in Bugiri District, a project he spearheaded, stand as a testament to his commitment and organizational prowess. This event, however, was also a crucible moment.
It was here, as Justine Kasule Lumumba and her favored candidate, Stephen Mutumba, notably abandoned the ceremony, that the fault lines in Bugiri’s political landscape became starkly visible.
It was at this very juncture that Silwany, sensing the shifting currents and the palpable disconnect between the old guard and the aspirations of the grassroots, made the decisive move to contest for the NRM District Chairperson position.
Perhaps the most telling indicator of this evolving dynamic comes from the political chessboard of Bugiri itself. Solomon Silwany’s subsequent victory as the newly elected NRM Chairman of Bugiri district, directly defeating Stephen Mutumba – Kasule Lumumba’s preferred candidate and the former chairman – amidst considerable chaos, was a thunderclap.
This triumph, a noticeable tremor beneath the surface of Busoga politics, stands in stark contrast to Lumumba’s struggling camp. A particularly poignant development is the alignment of figures like Namatende, a seasoned politician who once challenged Lumumba, with Silwany’s camp for the upcoming 2026 elections.
This migration of political allies is a powerful metaphor for the shifting allegiance and trust among local political actors – a clear sign that the political tides are turning.
Furthermore, Silwany has emerged as a key convener of regional NRM leaders, as evidenced by his role in leading a group of Busoga NRM figures to back Speaker Anita Among’s candidature for the NRM delegates’ conference. This initiative positions him not just as a local leader, but as a significant regional broker, capable of mobilizing and directing political currents across Busoga.
In the grand tapestry of Ugandan politics, influence is not static. While Justine Kasule Lumumba’s legacy as a powerful national figure remains etched in the annals of the NRM, the ground beneath Bugiri and Busoga is undeniably yielding to a new gravitational pull.
Solomon Silwany, with his strategic investments in party infrastructure, his ascending role in Parliament, and his growing ability to unite regional political forces, is fast becoming the undeniable political compass for Bugiri and a significant influencer across the vast, fertile plains of Busoga. The political pendulum, it seems, has swung, and Silwany’s star is undeniably in the ascendancy.
Mr. Kyotaite Muhussein – Political Analyst and Lawyer
