Dynasties at War: Sodo–Shartsi Showdown Reignites Kaguta–Kutesa Rivalry in Sembabule

The nomination of Godfrey Aine Kaguta, widely known as Sodo, to contest in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries for Mawogola North has reopened old wounds and revived a simmering power struggle between two of Uganda’s most influential political families — the Musevenis and the Kuteesas.

This anticipated rematch with incumbent MP Shartsi Musherure Kutesa, daughter of former powerful Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, is more than just a local contest. It symbolizes a deeper clash within the ruling party’s inner circles, threatening to shake the political foundations of Sembabule District, a region once firmly under Kutesa’s grip.

Addressing the press at NRM headquarters in Kyadondo shortly after his nomination, Sodo voiced disappointment over what he described as a betrayal of a 2021 family agreement. According to him, a high-level meeting held at State House Entebbe before the last general elections — and attended by President Yoweri Museveni, Gen Salim Saleh, and Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba — ended with a consensus that Shartsi would not seek re-election in 2026, clearing the way for his return.

“I’m disappointed because we had a clear agreement, and those who were in that meeting know what was said,” Sodo told journalists. “But I have no problem with going back to the people. I won the primaries last time, and I’ll do it again.”

Indeed, in 2021, Sodo emerged victorious in the NRM primaries. But amid rising tension and reports of violent confrontations between rival supporters, he was persuaded — under unclear circumstances — to step down from the general election just hours before voting began. Shartsi went on to win the seat, but the internal rift left lasting scars. Many of Sodo’s backers felt betrayed and either sat out the vote or defected to opposition camps.

With both candidates now poised for a rematch, the NRM finds itself caught between two competing power centers — the President’s extended family and the remnants of Kutesa’s long-standing political dynasty. The rivalry threatens to deepen fractures within the party and potentially alter its local and national alliances ahead of the 2026 elections.

What happens in Mawogola North could set a precedent for how the NRM handles internal family-linked disputes, especially those involving its most powerful stakeholders. The outcome of this race may not only decide who controls Sembabule but also hint at the shifting balances of influence within Uganda’s ruling elite.