The State Minister of Energy, Hon Phiona Nyamutoro, has officially announced her candidacy for the Woman MP parliamentary seat in Nebbi District. She shared her intentions on her X Twitter account, stating that the district has given rise to several remarkable individuals for Uganda.
Nevertheless, none of these individuals have managed to bring prominence to the area. She believes that with her entry into this role, Nebbi will certainly shine.
“Nebbi has produced many great and significant citizens for our Nation, and now it’s time for Her to shine,” she stated.
https://twitter.com/PNyamutoro/status/1921314444228833658
The Minister will be running under the NRM banner, a party she has been affiliated with since entering active politics. However, she will encounter tough competition from the incumbent woman MP, Agnes Acibu, who is also part of the NRM. Given that Acibu joined Parliament in 2021, it seems unlikely that she will willingly step aside to allow Nyamutoro to take her place. This indicates that the two will first face off in the upcoming NRM primaries scheduled for the next few months.
Analysts, however, view Nyamutoro as being in a stronger position to secure both the primaries and the general election due to her rapidly increasing prominence in Ugandan politics. She is also expected to be favored by the NRM ticket, particularly because of the value she adds to the party.
At just 31 years old, the Minister is particularly popular among the youth, largely due to her marriage to renowned Ugandan singer, Eddy Kenzo. The last two years have seen the couple frequently in the news, culminating in President Museveni’s appointment of Nyamutoro to her current ministerial role.
Presently, she serves as the National Female Youth Representative in the eleventh Parliament. Thus, this move appears timely, as she possesses experience in competitive politics at an age where young Ugandans are taking an increasingly central role in the country’s leadership. It remains to be seen how her journey will unfold as the NRM primaries and general elections approach.
