Minister for Home Affairs and CCM National Executive Council (NEC) member, Mr Innocent Lugha Bashungwa, has officially declared his intention to defend his parliamentary seat in Karagwe constituency, Kagera Region.
Mr Bashungwa collected and returned nomination forms on Monday, July 1, 2025, to the ruling party’s Karagwe District Secretary, Mr Anatory Nshange, signaling his bid for a third consecutive term under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ticket.
First elected to Parliament in 2015, Mr Bashungwa has represented Karagwe for two successive terms. Over the past decade, he has held several key cabinet positions, reflecting his growing influence within both government and the party.
His ministerial roles have included: Deputy Minister for Agriculture; Minister for Industry and Trade; Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports; Minister of State in the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government; Minister for Defence and National Service; Minister for Works and Transport; and currently, Minister for Home Affairs.
In Karagwe, his tenure has been marked by investments in public infrastructure, education, health services, and economic empowerment initiatives.
His re-election bid, he says, is driven by the desire to consolidate development gains and continue advocating for the interests of his constituents at the national level.
“I remain committed to serving the people of Karagwe with integrity, energy, and a clear vision for inclusive development,” he told CCM members shortly after submitting his nomination.
Mr Bashungwa’s move sets the stage for what is expected to be a competitive internal vetting process within the ruling party, ahead of the 2025 General Election.