The incumbent NRM National Entrepreneurs League Chairperson is at it again; this time drawing a pistol on Mbarara district voters who ambushed him at the NRM Electoral Commission Headquarters, Kampala on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, also Member of Parliament for Mbarara City North had, according to sources, sneaked into the party’s electoral offices to protest the massive loss of his preferred candidates for the Mbarara district NRM structure elections that were concluded on Friday, May 23, 2025.
His move leaked, attracting a host of diehard Mbarara district NRM party members who were seen verbally assaulting the MP in a video that has gone viral. The party members accuse him of attempting to change the votes at the electoral commission.
“You have come here to ‘pour’ literally meaning to overturn the results, we shall not allow you to that,” angry voters are heard in the video accosting the Legislator who smiled timidly.
His attempts to walk away from the angry voters were futile as they kept following him towards the gate calling him a vote rigger. It is at this point that Rukaari went for his pistol that was securely tucked away on the left side of his trouser.
Common sense seemed to have reigned as he quickly put back the pistol and walked out of the gate.
Much as common sense may have reigned at that moment, but the video has now gone viral portraying the Honorable Member of Parliament as aggressive and unable to tame his temper when faced with hard facts.
Rukaari is fighting to retain his position as National Chairman NRM Entrepreneurs League, the main reason he was interested in the Mbarara District and City NRM structure elections. These are potential voters for CEC candidates.
One political analyst from Mbarara City who spoke to East News in relation to the incident described Rukaari’s actions as those of a ‘Dying Horse.”
“Rukaari has lost ground miserably and is unlikely to go back to Parliament, so it is unsurprising that all those who associated with him during the NRM Structure elections failed,” he says.
The persons who went through for Entrepreneurs League at District level are; Ruyondo Edson (Chairperson), Mugume Bernard (Vice), Mark Mugisha (Gen Secretary), Isaac Asiimwe (Sec for Publicity), and Kansime Hilda (Sec for Finance).
Meanwhile, Entrepreneurs League City Level are Chairperson, Asiimwe Alex, Vice Chairperson (Katende Dirisa), Gen Secretary, Asiimwe Juliet and Sec for Finance, Hajji Jamil Bakyase Katongore.
Rukaari’s dwindling political fortunes were recently witnessed when on April, 6th 2025, residents of Bunusya Ward in Mbarara City North Division rejected hand hoes distributed by their area MP.
They accused him of failing to fulfill his 2021 campaign promise to bring electricity to the area. Rukaari, in his first term, is known for supporting agriculture by distributing hand hoes, sugarcane cuttings, and cassava tubers.
However, the residents said they now want electricity, not farming tools. The residents sent away a blue truck that had brought the hoes plus some soda and sugar.
Rukaari is no visitor to scandals. Recently Ankole diocese leaders including the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa accused him for failure to deliver an invitation letter to Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, to officiate at Ankole diocese Revival Radio’s 5-year anniversary.
The anniversary was eventually presided over by Archbishop, His Grace Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu at Kakyeka playground with no single MP from Mbarara in attendance.
Relatedly, a family in Isingiro district petitioned government after allegedly losing over ten billion Shillings to Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari
The petitioners Hillary Twesiga, Vital Mukarago, Steven Muganga, Paul Mukarangye, Jerald Gutesa and the estate of Frank Mirenge petitioned the office of the Speaker of Parliament to intervene and have the MP refund their money.
The petitioners say that they owned land in Isingiro district which was occupied by refugees, until June 2018, when the government compensate them to a tune of shs13,549,481,400 for the land.
But Mwesigwa, through his company, American Procurement Company Inc (AMPROC Inc) convinced them to grant him powers of Attorney to receive all the payments from the government on their behalf and that he would later remit to each petitioner his entitlement.
According to the petition filed through Kakuru and Company Advocates, the MP received a total of shs10,225,710,000 between June 13, 2018, and May 11, 2020, using two companies; AMPROC and Mwesigwa Resorts Ltd but never remitted the money to the beneficiaries.
“Upon realising that no remittance was forthcoming from Hon. Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, the petitioners revoked the power of Attorney to his company and lodged a complaint to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Lands who stopped remittances to AMPROC Inc and started remitting the balance directly to their personal accounts,” reads the petition in part.
The petitioners have so far received shs1,372,067,400 and are yet to receive their balance.
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