The NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has expressed strong confidence that he will defeat the incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the National Resistance Movement in the January general elections.
Kyagulanyi, who is currently on the second phase of his campaign trail in the greater Masaka sub-region, said that despite recurrent threats and disruptions by security agencies, his campaign has continued to gain momentum. He noted that the persistent challenges have not deterred his resolve to mobilise voters across the country.
He said the consistently large crowds that have turned out to receive him along major roads and at campaign venues nationwide are a clear sign of growing public support, giving him an edge over the seven other opposition candidates challenging President Museveni.
According to Kyagulanyi, the turnout is a strong indicator that he is on course for victory in the general elections slated for January 15.
Addressing supporters at Buwunga Community Playground, Kyagulanyi declared that the NRM candidate and incumbent president would have no option but to accept defeat and hand over power peacefully. He said the campaign trail has enabled him to rally Ugandans from different regions to rise above ethnic and religious divisions in pursuit of political transition.
Kyagulanyi urged his supporters to exercise heightened vigilance on polling day to thwart any attempts at vote rigging, which he claimed is the only avenue through which the NRM could extend President Museveni’s tenure.
He further encouraged supporters to use the national flag as a symbol of unity and responsibility, calling on Ugandans to collectively strive for a country that benefits all. Kyagulanyi also pledged that, if elected, his government would prioritise improving livelihoods by promoting traditional cash crops suited to different regions of the country.
Some supporters, including Peter Kiberu and Annet Nabakooza, challenged the NUP leadership to strengthen mechanisms for safeguarding the electoral process beyond polling stations, particularly during results transmission to the national tally centre.
They argued that while supporters have previously guarded votes at polling stations, discrepancies have often emerged during transmission, suggesting vulnerabilities in the process.
Kyagulanyi’s confidence comes as the NRM leadership has also expressed optimism about improved performance in the upcoming elections, citing intensified mass mobilisation, especially in regions where the party suffered losses in the 2021 polls.
Meanwhile, , the chairperson of the Elecroral Commission Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi has repeatedly assured Ugandans that the commission is committed to organising free and credible general elections in January.
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