NEKESA: The Untold Story of the Woman from Busia Trusted to Keep the NRM Treasury Running

Special Political Feature

By Brian Mugenyi | mugenyijj@gmail.com

MASAKA CITY, UGANDA — In political science, victories are celebrated under bright lights, but institutions are sustained in quiet corridors where discipline and accountability determine whether promises become reality. As the saying goes, the engine powering the vehicle is rarely seen, but without it, the journey comes to a halt.

Lately, the corridors of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have echoed with a singular name whispered in respect by party stalwarts: Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo. Across grassroots structures, “Nekesa, Nekesa!” has become the appreciative chant of mobilizers.

But who is Ambassador Nekesa, and how did she become the financial anchor of Uganda’s ruling party?

Appointed National Treasurer by NRM National Chairman President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2021, Nekesa assumed responsibility for one of the party’s most demanding portfolios—overseeing the financial administration of a political giant stretching from remote villages to national headquarters.

During the high-stakes 2026 General Elections, her office transformed into the busiest nerve center at the Secretariat. Financial facilitation for nationwide mobilization, timely support to flag bearers, and the intricate coordination of special interest groups—including youth, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities—required meticulous planning. To many at Kyadondo Road, Nekesa’s work rarely seeks the flashbulbs of headlines. Yet, like the foundation of a house, it carries the weight of the entire structure.

A Journey Forged in Public Service

Long before managing the NRM treasury, Barbara Nekesa built a formidable career in public service. Born in the border district of Busia, she studied at Bubulo Girls School and Mbogo High School before graduating from Makerere University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management—a discipline that defines her structured approach today.

Her national political journey accelerated in 2011 when she was elected Woman MP for Busia District. Recognizing her potential, President Museveni appointed her State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, where she spearheaded development programs until 2016. Her career then took a diplomatic turn as Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, representing the nation in Pretoria and neighboring Southern African states, before her recall to party leadership in 2021.

Masaka Leaders Credit Her Stewardship

Hundreds of kilometers from Busia, NRM leaders in Masaka City bear firsthand testimony to Nekesa’s efficiency during the 2026 electoral cycle. Masaka City NRM Chairman, Rogers Bulegeya, emphasizes that the National Treasurer’s office ensured local structures received vital logistical backing on time.

“Whenever we needed resources for mobilization, we received them promptly,” Bulegeya stated. “This enabled us to facilitate flag bearers, youth, PWDs, older persons, and councilor candidates, boosting grassroots morale at a critical time.”

Masaka’s leadership ties this seamless backing directly to their performance during the 2026 elections, citing President Museveni’s Liberation Square rally in December 2025 and NRM candidates securing a resilient 37% in a traditionally competitive region. For these managers, elections are won through quiet planning and reliable funding.

Beyond the Politics

In personal interactions, Nekesa strikes one as a receptive leader defined by professional administration rather than loud political theater. “Thanks for voting for Mzee, and I am sure he is very happy with Masaka City’s performance,” she remarked warmly.

Mr. Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM Secretariat’s Director of Communication and Publicity, recently commended this corporate synergy. “The timely logistical facilitation from her office signaled success down to our sister villages and their nominated candidates,” Dombo recollected.

For the NRM leadership, the verdict is clear: they see Barbara Nekesa not as the loudest voice in the room, but as the steady hand driving the ruling party’s machinery—proving that while the spotlight belongs to those on stage, lasting institutions are built behind the curtain.