KABALE. In a dramatic turn of events following the just-concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries, State Minister for Trade and Cooperatives, Hon. David Bahati, has evicted the NRM party offices in Kabale Municipality from a building he owns.
Bahati, who has served as the NRM party Chairman for Kabale District for two decades, lost the party flag to newcomer Eliab Naturinda Mporera in the recently held primaries. The defeat is being described by insiders as a “miserable loss” for the long-serving minister.
Sources close to Bahati say the eviction was effected shortly after the announcement of results, with the NRM office staff given notice to vacate the premises. The office has operated from the building in Kabale town for years, rent-free under Bahati’s patronage.
In a further blow to the ruling party’s cohesion in the district, Bahati has tendered his resignation as NRM Kabale District Chairman. He is expected to formally submit the resignation letter to the NRM Secretariat on Monday.
Multiple sources confirmed that Bahati intends to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming general elections, defying the party decision.
His decision marks a stunning fall from grace for a man once considered the political kingpin of Kabale and a key pillar in the NRM’s southwestern Uganda strategy.
Political analysts say the move could trigger divisions within the NRM in Kabale and may set a precedent for other flag-bearer losers across the country.
Efforts to reach Bahati for a comment were futile, as his known phone numbers remained unreachable by press time.
The NRM Secretariat has not yet issued a formal response to Bahati’s eviction of the party office or his reported resignation. However, party observers expect the matter to dominate discussions in the coming days as the party grapples with growing post-primary fallout