Raila meets political aspirant from Museveni's NRM party - People Daily

Published 2 days ago• 2 minute read

Thursday 15th May, 2025 12:01 PM|

Raila meets political aspirant from Museveni’s NRM party — Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and John Baptist Ouma, a young Ugandan politician who is vying for the position of Youth Representative. PHOTO/@RailaOdinga/X

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has met with John Baptist Ouma, a young Ugandan politician who is vying for the position of Youth Representative under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in Eastern Uganda.

According to a statement shared via his X account on Thursday, May 15, 2025, Raila was accompanied by several Kenyan comrades, including Victor Marende, Fred Makajos, and Kasmuel McOure. The group held discussions with Ouma, who is gearing up for Uganda’s upcoming general elections.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader praised the youthful leader and shared his support for Ouma’s political journey.

“I met John Baptist Ouma in the company of his comrades from Kenya: Victor Marende, Fred Makajos, and Kasmuel McOure. @JBJOHNBAPTISTO1 is a candidate in the upcoming Uganda general elections. He’s vying as a youth representative under the NRM party in Eastern Uganda. We wish him all the best in the upcoming elections,” Raila wrote.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinda, John Baptist Ouma, Victor Marende, Fred Makajos and Kasmuel McOure. PHOTO/@RailaOdinga/X

This meeting comes just a few months after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) sent a delegation to Uganda for a high-level consultative visit with the NRM party.

The UDA team, led by party Secretary General Senator Hassan Omar, flew to Kampala on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

In a statement posted on UDA’s official X page, the party explained that the week-long visit was aimed at deepening ties and exploring areas of mutual interest between the two parties and their respective countries.

According to the statement, the Kenyan delegation was to engage with NRM officials throughout the week. One of the key highlights of their visit is a scheduled meeting with Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday, February 7, 2025.

President Museveni, who also serves as the NRM’s National Chairman, was expected to brief the UDA delegation on the workings, structure, and political achievements of the NRM.

In addition to the meeting with Museveni, the UDA team also toured the NRM Leadership Academy. This institution plays a key role in training political leaders in Uganda.

UDA hinted that it is considering setting up a similar political training center in Kenya, inspired by the model used by the NRM.