The Buganda Youth Caucus on Thursday publicly endorsed Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki’s candidature ahead of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Delegates Conference scheduled later this month.
The endorsement comes as the party prepares to elect leaders at the conference, a key event in which delegates will select CEC Vice Chairpersons for the different regions of Uganda.
Jonard is considered the frontrunner for the Western Region slot, a position currently held by incumbent Chris Baryomunsi.
The Western Region race has attracted several high-profile contestants, including Sedrack Nzeire Kaguta, a younger brother to President Yoweri Museveni.
Political pundits say the race is expected to be closely contested, with Jonard leveraging strong grassroots support, exemplified by backing from influential groups such as the Buganda Youth Caucus.
They add that endorsements from youth and regional caucuses often play a significant role in shaping outcomes at NRM delegate conferences, highlighting the importance of Jonard’s recent support.
The NRM Delegates Conference, set for later this month, is widely regarded as a decisive event for shaping the party’s regional leadership ahead of upcoming political cycles in Uganda.
Akiiki, whose career spans the petroleum, infrastructure, and mining sectors, presents himself as a technocrat grounded in grassroots service. He holds multiple degrees including a Master’s in Oil and Gas Governance and is currently pursuing a PhD in stakeholder engagement.
His track record includes community-driven projects across Bunyoro, Karamoja, Busia, and Central Uganda — from football sponsorships to textbook distribution and civic radio programming.
He has worked as a consultant on major infrastructure projects, including the Tilenga Oil Project and the Kabaale International Airport, and has advocated for clean industrial technologies such as ESP filters in cement plants. His business conglomerate, Jonard Group, employs hundreds of Ugandan youth across construction, events, and tech sectors.
