Africa-Press – Uganda. The National Unity Platform (NUP) has recorded a major political milestone in Bugiri District, securing victory in 465 out of 480 villages during the recently concluded village youth elections, according to party officials.
Joseph Ntaale, the NUP district chairperson in Bugiri, described the outcome as a “massive victory for the people” despite significant challenges.
“We would have swept all 480 villages if not for security personnel who scared off some of our candidates with threats of arrest,” Ntaale told reporters.
He also accused ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) agents of luring candidates with money and job promises to abandon the race or cross over to the NRM.
“Some of our youth were promised between Shs200,000 and Shs250,000 to change their allegiance,” Ntaale said.
“We also faced internal constraints—our secretariat lacked the funds to effectively monitor all the elections, especially in very rural areas.”
Despite these setbacks, NUP supporters gathered in Ndifakulya village, Kapyang Sub-county, to celebrate what they called a “people’s victory.”
Among them was Rebecca Namumbya, the aspiring Woman MP for Bugiri on the NUP ticket, who said the win was a signal that the district—and indeed the country—was ready for change.
“The people of Bugiri are speaking loud and clear,” Namumbya said. “They are tired of the old order. We must now channel this energy into the 2026 general elections and ensure that we vote for change at all levels.”
Andrew Kaluya, the NUP Eastern Regional Coordinator, confirmed that 8,994 individuals across the greater eastern region have picked nomination forms to contest on the NUP ticket for various positions ahead of 2026—an indicator of the party’s growing appeal at the grassroots.
“We are building from the bottom up. These youth victories show that we are gaining momentum,” Kaluya said.
However, Kaluya also criticized security forces for bias.
“In most cases, security personnel only protect candidates from the ruling party,” he said. “We urge them to act professionally and give equal treatment to all political actors.”
As the celebrations spilled into Bugiri town, cheerful NUP supporters danced and waved flags while singing along to songs by Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, the party’s president.
The scenes reflected a growing undercurrent of discontent—and hope—among Bugiri’s politically active youth.
With 2026 drawing nearer, NUP’s strong showing in the Bugiri youth elections may well foreshadow a more competitive political season in the east, as opposition forces seek to convert grassroots support into national gains.
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