The sun had risen over Kaliro when President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recalled a case that had tested the integrity of the NRM primaries. A candidate in Namutumba had been declared winner, until an appeal exposed serious irregularities. “When I reviewed the facts, it was clear there was a problem,” he told supporters. “I asked my lawyers to check, and we found a mistake. It was easy to cancel the previous declaration.”
It was the story he used to set the tone for his campaign rally on Tuesday: no confusion, no shortcuts, and no room for tampering as the party heads toward the 2026 general elections.
Addressing residents at the rally held alongside First Lady Maama Janet Museveni, the President vowed to personally resolve disputes involving disgruntled independents and contested primary results. He said the NRM could not afford internal chaos at a time when unity was central to its campaign message.
Museveni insisted that the party’s electoral processes remain transparent because candidates’ agents, security officers, and the public witness the entire counting process. “If we count when everyone is there and someone goes and changes results, that person is foolish,” he said. “We can cross-check everything.”
He added that aspirants or sitting Members of Parliament who interfere with results would face arrest. “Even if he is already a Member of Parliament, bring the facts. We shall arrest him and take him to jail,” he warned.
Senior NRM figures, including Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo and Secretary General Richard Todwong, joined him on the campaign trail as the party sought to consolidate its base.
Free Education and Skills for Youth
Museveni defended his campaign for free education and urged NRM leaders to maintain unity as government expands youth skills programs. He cited groups that have already mastered crafts once imported from abroad, describing them as evidence of Uganda’s growing pool of home-grown talent.
He said the country must continue emphasizing education and skilling because they widen opportunities for young people including those who previously “had no hope.”
Wealth Creation Remains the Backbone
The President returned to one of his core messages: commercial agriculture as the path to household prosperity. He shared success stories from Busoga, including Basangwa, a farmer who started in a backyard and now owns more than 100,000 chickens, earning about Shs 20 million daily.
“Those who divert you are your enemies,” Museveni said. “Government jobs are only 480,000, yet we are 50 million people. The answer is in wealth creation, not waiting for government employment.”
He told residents that the NRM’s seven pillars continue to guide Uganda’s transformation, highlighting peace, development, wealth creation, and jobs. He promised to expand on the remaining pillars at an upcoming press briefing.
A Call for Steadfast Support
The President urged Kaliro residents to stand firmly with the NRM, describing it as the most consistent and reliable vehicle for the country’s stability and economic advancement.