The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, on Wednesday told thousands of supporters at Butema Playground in Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District, that Uganda’s political moment has gone beyond routine campaigns, evolving into a “national struggle for liberation.”
Addressing the crowd, which braved heavy security deployment, Kyagulanyi said Ugandans must understand that the fight is not for him or individual Members of Parliament, but for citizens “redeeming themselves” from decades of poor governance. “We are not in campaigns, we are in a struggle,” Kyagulanyi declared. “I want everyone to leave here knowing you are not fighting for Kyagulanyi or your area MP, but for your own redemption.”
He accused the current government of neglecting its duty to build infrastructure and quality public services, noting that most of the country’s key roads and hospitals were established under past regimes. He said the NRM administration had instead “mastered the art of embezzlement” and mismanaged institutions that once served the public.
Kyagulanyi pointed to what he described as the systematic marginalisation of communities around Lake Victoria in Buikwe. He said the district has 52 landing sites, “yet residents have been denied access while foreigners take over,” adding that some locals have been beaten, drowned, or rendered jobless in the resulting conflicts. He further criticised poor working conditions in nearby factories, where some workers earn less than Shs5,000 a day. He accused the government of deliberately refusing to address these challenges “to keep Ugandans poor and easy to govern.”
The NUP candidate also blamed the heavy use of teargas and violent dispersal of supporters on the state’s fear of public mobilisation. “They teargas us because they don’t want you to converge in big numbers and expose that you are tired of the regime,” he told the crowd. Kyagulanyi alleged that security forces had intensified arrests of NUP supporters and media personnel in an attempt to “keep the country and the world in darkness” during the election period.
He warned residents to expect more intimidation but urged them not to back down. “I won’t tell you they won’t come for you,” he said. “But this is the time we have. Let us canvass for votes, turn up for voting and protect our votes on polling day.” He also claimed the government planned to use Democratic Party president Norbert Mao to alter the country’s voting system, cautioning the public to remain alert. “This might be the last time for voting the president,” Kyagulanyi said.
“I don’t want it to appear new when it happens.” Kyagulanyi urged residents to vote only for candidates aligned with NUP’s “umbrella” symbol, dismissing both NRM and independent candidates. Without giving further justification, he specifically told the crowd not to vote for Jimmy Lwanga or the incumbent woman MP, Diana Mutasingwa, whom he accused of torturing residents.
Earlier, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, NUP Buganda Region Vice Chairperson, introduced the party’s flag bearers in Buikwe. They included Waliggo Kanga–Njeru Municipality MP, George Wasswa – LC5 Chairperson, Stephen Sserubula – Lugazi Municipality, Jimmy Kanaabi – Buikwe South, and Faridah Nabatatanzi – District Woman MP.
Nabatatanzi, addressing the same rally, criticised the regime for restricting local access to the lake, failing to provide affordable electricity despite communities living close to the power source, and allowing the exploitation of factory workers. She urged residents to entrust her with the mandate to “oust Diana Mutasingwa, who is part of the tormenting regime.”
Ukasha Ssemakula, the NUP mayoral candidate for Njeru Municipality, called on residents to turn up in large numbers on voting day and “take responsibility for protecting the vote” as a safeguard against electoral malpractice. Like in Mukono the previous day, security forces continued to block supporters along Kyagulanyi’s route.
At several trading centres in Buikwe, police and military officers were seen pushing back and assaulting residents who stood by the roadside to wave at the opposition candidate. Despite this, the NUP convoy moved slowly through Njeru as crowds broke through security barriers to cheer and take photos, highlighting the heightened tension surrounding the ongoing presidential campaigns.
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