Africa-Press – Uganda. The newly elected district leaders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Bunyoro have vowed to eliminate opposition influence in the region ahead of the 2026 general elections, pledging to woo top opposition figures, galvanise youth support, and intensify the message of wealth creation.
Buoyed by what they describe as an overwhelming turnout in the recent party structures election, the NRM leaders claim the level of mobilisation was so strong it resembled a national election.
They now assert that the party will secure over 90% of the vote in Bunyoro in 2026.
“Our priority is to bring key opposition leaders into NRM,” said Alan Atugonza, the newly elected NRM Chairperson for Buliisa District.
“Bunyoro has seen a lot of development under the NRM. Why oppose that? My focus is to engage opposition members and welcome them into the party.”
Atugonza’s sentiments were echoed by Elukana Mpoza, the NRM Chairperson for Kagadi, who said part of his mission is to tell “the good stories” of the NRM and make the party more appealing to the youth, many of whom have been shifting towards the National Unity Platform (NUP).
“The people who were in office before had aged and could no longer communicate the achievements of government effectively,” Mpoza said.
“We need a new generation of leaders who can speak to the youth and help them see what the NRM has done.”
Harriet Businge, the newly elected NRM Secretary for Hoima, claimed the large turnout in the internal elections showed the opposition had lost its grip on the region.
“There is no ground for the opposition in Bunyoro, given how people came out to vote in the party structures,” she said.
But opposition leaders in the region have pushed back, accusing the ruling party of empty rhetoric and failing to address key issues such as poor public services, land grabbing, and delays in fulfilling promises like the long-awaited Bunyoro University.
Rodgers Kanti, NUP coordinator for Masindi, dismissed the NRM’s mobilisation as “propaganda” and pledged to counter what he called misinformation.
“We will not accept the lies of NRM any longer,” Kanti said. “Our message is clear—this government has neglected the people of Bunyoro. We are going to tell them the truth.”
Fred Banage, FDC Chairperson for Masindi, insisted that the political landscape in Bunyoro has changed, with more people becoming aware of their rights and responsibilities.
“Gone are the days when people were deceived with handouts,” he said. “The people of Bunyoro are now civically upright and politically conscious.”
The two sides are expected to continue their parallel mobilisation drives as Uganda’s political calendar moves closer to the 2026 general elections.
For now, both camps appear determined to assert dominance in a region long considered a ruling party stronghold, but not without emerging resistance.
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