As campaigns for the Sheema District Woman Member of Parliament seat intensify, the race has taken a decisive turn following a notable realignment within the opposition camp. Several senior members of the campaign team of Ms Katusiime Adrine Mwebesa have crossed over to support Hon. Atuhaire Jacklet Rwabukurukuru, citing confidence in her development record and experience.
The shift is being led by Mr Tom Mwesigye, Adrine’s campaign chairman, and Mr Abdul Murodi, a key mobiliser, whose decision to defect has injected new momentum into Hon. Jacklet’s bid and reshaped the dynamics of the contest.
Local leaders and voters interviewed attribute the growing support for Hon. Jacklet to her track record of community engagement and service delivery, both before and during her previous tenure in Parliament. Residents point to initiatives across social and economic sectors, which they say distinguish her candidacy from rivals largely perceived as offering promises without visible outcomes.
“She has been tested,” said one community leader in Sheema Town Council. “People have seen what she did before Parliament, while in Parliament, and even when she was out. That consistency is what many voters relate to.”
By contrast, supporters of Hon. Jacklet argue that Ms Adrine’s long involvement in women’s political mobilisation has not translated into tangible interventions on the ground, a comparison they say has influenced voter sentiment and informed the recent defections.
The realignment has been welcomed by several district leaders. Sheema District LC V Chairperson described Hon. Jacklet as a results-oriented leader with the capacity to effectively engage central government institutions.
“Hon. Atuhaire Jacklet is a development-focused leader with deep love for this district,” the chairperson said. “Her experience and networks within government ministries, departments and agencies position her well to lobby for improved service delivery. She has consistently worked with the people and understands how to translate leadership into impact.”
Although campaigning as an independent, Hon. Jacklet is widely regarded as having strong links within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) establishment.
Her supporters also point to her visible involvement in mobilising support for President Museveni, particularly among women and youth structures, as further evidence of her organisational strength and political reach.
Voters backing the camp switch say the decision by Mr Mwesigye and Mr Murodi reflects broader public sentiment and a desire for unity around a candidate perceived as capable of advancing Sheema’s development agenda over the next five years.
With campaigns entering their final stretch, the defections underscore a tightening race in which track record, networks and grassroots credibility are increasingly shaping voter choices in Sheema District.