By: AKAMPA RUGABA
Well, last week the Uganda Electoral Commission concluded nominations for Presidential Candidates, out of over 190 Ugandans who expressed interest in standing for the number one job in this Country, only Eight candidates were successfully nominated.
This time around, most Ugandans will miss out on the fun of Mr Katumba John aka Katumba Oyeee! He made 2021 campaigns very lively and entertaining! Perhaps, Munywangwa Mubarak could take up his place!
Most Ugandans see a serious competition to NRM’s flagbear, the incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa from Hon Mugisha Muntu of ANT, Bobi Wine of NUP, Hon Nandala Mafabi of FDC, simply because these are some how known by a section of Ugandans and equally represent political parties that have membership across the Country.
Where as Mr Robert Kyaguranyi aka Bobi Wine came 2nd to President Museveni in 2021 elections, it is likely to be the same and given the fact that his National Unity Platform (NUP) party has picked all over the Country with candidates standing for Members of Parliament even in my region of Kigezi, in Districts like Rukiga, Kanungu, Kabale, Kisoro, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has always enjoyed atleast 85% support.
In 2021, Mr Kyaguranyi had no any serious Candidates in these districts, perhaps it is the reason he performed poorly with just 38000 votes from entire region!
Where as President Museveni got 420,000 votes out of the total 798,000 registered voters, out of the total votes casted only 65% as average turn up.
Where as the average turn up for 2016 was 75% and 2011, average turn up was 72%, we observed a trend in Kigezi region where voter apathy has sharply increased in 2021 and likely to increase further not only in Kigezi but across the Country.
In some constituencies, like Kamuli, Rukiga, Rubanda, Arua Municipality among others, Members of Parliament are likely to get more votes than the NRM Presidential Candidate!
Where as in majority constituencies where NRM Primaries were so messed up, the candidates who are not coming back as independents will shan the general elections and campaigns, this is most ĺikely to affect voter turn up on the polling day.
Equally Electoral Commission still has polling stations located very far and voters find it hard to move to these polling centres hence staying at home.
Independents and their supporters will be more demoralised and have no trust in the process thus majority are already nursing wounds and likely not to turn up on the voting day.
The campaign machinery for President Museveni must also change the tactics so as to influence more youth, women and the so called Coperates to take part in these elections, otherwise, if these groups stay at home or at their work places, the percentage NRM support base will be defranchized especially in urban and peri urban centres.
There is a lot that President Museveni must address in order to score above 60% in the 2026 elections, some of these, I have already shared in a comùnique. Whether he got this or not, it’s a different topic of discussion.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa is going to win the 2026 elections but for a higher percentage, we need to do things differently, NRM has more numbers that must be mobilised, persuaded, encouraged, ignited to come out and vote with vigor, vibe & with new energy, a bigger task ahead!
Forget the crowds we had at Kololo Grounds on the nomination day, we need numbers in the ballot not just crowds!
For God & My Country Uganda.
AKAMPA Rugaba is Cordinator for H:E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni 2026 and NRM Chairman-Kebisoni Town Council
akampabi@gmail.com
