Kibuku, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni electrified Kibuku District on Thursday as thousands of NRM supporters flooded the streets in a show of overwhelming support for the ruling party ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Arriving by helicopter at Kibuku Secondary School before joining a motorcade to the rally venue at Kibuku Primary School grounds, Mr Museveni received a massive welcome from cheering supporters waving party flags and chanting his name. The rally marked his second stop of the day after an earlier address in nearby Budaka District.
In his address, the President rallied citizens to embrace national unity as the foundation of Uganda’s transformation. “The transformation of Uganda depends on unity, with the government building infrastructure and the citizens creating wealth in their homes,” he said.
He credited peace as NRM’s greatest achievement, explaining that it created the stability necessary for roads, electricity, schools and hospitals to flourish. But stressed that physical development alone does not change livelihoods unless families participate in wealth creation.
“Development alone is not enough; every family must enter the field of wealth creation,” Mr Museveni said, urging households to embrace programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) to boost their incomes.
He announced upgrades of local health centres, including Dodoi, Nandere, Kituti and Nakodo to Health Centre III status, alongside strengthened free education to support human capital growth. “Jobs come from wealth, from the individual, the family, and the company. That is how Uganda will continue to move forward steadily and peacefully,” Museveni told the gathering.
Earlier, Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson Rt. Hon. Anita Among used the rally to mobilize grassroots supporters, urging them to take charge of community-level campaigning.
“You are the campaign managers for the president’s votes, and no one will come from Kampala to mobilize people to vote for Museveni unless you,” she said.
Ms Among also briefed the President on recent moves to unify party ranks, confirming the withdrawal of several independents in favour of official NRM candidates. These include Emmanuel Gonahasa Piyata and Mathias Daka, who stepped aside for Dr Patrick Godfrey Wakida in Kabweri County, and Ikebere Abudallah, who withdrew for Charles Tamwenya Musumbeku in Kibuku County. Gonahasa and Abudallah attended the rally, though Daka could not be reached for comment.
In a symbolic display of party strength, President Museveni handed NRM flags to official district flag bearers, including Sylvia Damba Katooko (Kibuku Woman MP), Hajji Muhammad Nakeba (LC V Chairperson), Dr. Patrick Godfrey Wakida (Kabweri County MP), and Charles Tamwenya (Kibuku County MP). The event elicited loud cheers from supporters who saw it as a reaffirmation of NRM dominance in the district.
The rally briefly turned tense when Among invited State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs and Kibuku Woman MP Jenipher Namuyangu Kacha to address supporters. Boos and chants from sections of the crowd forced her to cut her speech short.
Over 200 defectors welcomed into NRM
Adding momentum to the NRM’s campaign, more than 200 youths reportedly defected from opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform (NUP), to join the ruling party. Local leaders said many were attracted by wealth creation programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme.
The defections have intensified pressure on NUP candidates Ronald Matayo Kanyere (Kabweri County) and Tongola Tom (Kibuku County), whose grip on the youth vote is increasingly uncertain.
Kibuku’s political landscape remains turbulent following NRM primaries where all incumbents—including Namuyangu- lost, signalling a demand for new leadership. Analysts say the sweeping internal changes and defections may strengthen NRM cohesion but could create friction with sidelined party loyalists.
Museveni continues his Bukedi campaign trail on Friday in Butaleja, before addressing supporters in Tororo and Busia on Saturday, and later shifting to Namutumba in Busoga on the same day.
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