Kyagulanyi's weeklong promises to the people of Teso

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As the 2026 general election draws nearer, National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu on Saturday concluded his weeklong campaign tour of the eastern sub-region of Teso.

The now two-time presidential candidate delivered his campaign message in eight districts: Soroti, Kumi, Ngora, Kapelebyong, Serere, Kaberamaido, Bukedea and Kalaki.

During a week when Kyagulanyi framed his candidacy as a mission of “national renewal” driven by commitment rather than traditional political pedigree, he addressed critics of his experience head-on.

'New Uganda'

The musician-turned-politician argued that decades of leadership by the “highly educated” had failed to translate into better lives for the people of Uganda.

 He pointed to a “broken” education system and hospitals without medicines as signs of a Uganda that has lost its way.

 “I am not here because I am the most educated or the most experienced,” he admitted while campaigning at the Kaberamaido Township Primary School grounds in Kaberamaido district on Friday.

“I am here because I am the most committed to the cause of a new Uganda.”

The Opposition politician pledged to tackle corruption, claiming that Uganda loses 10 trillion shillings annually to graft — funds he said could transform the East African nation's poor road network in just three years.

He also pledged to revive the railway, and cotton industry, once the region’s economic backbone, and to resolve the longstanding issue of cattle compensation for families who lost livestock during past insurgencies.

Kyagulanyi, also known by his music stage name Bobi Wine, promised to reinstate fishermen displaced from Lake Kyoga, as well as prioritise “competence over loyalty” in all public appointments.

'Your vote and your future'

As he campaigned through Soroti and Serere, the former Kyadondo East MP also took aim at recent warnings from the Electoral Commission and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who have urged voters to “go home” after casting their ballots in the 2026 general election.

Invoking Article 31 of the Presidential Elections Act, Kyagulanyi insisted that citizens have a legal right to remain within 20 metres of the polling table to observe the process. 

“This is not about violence,” he said. “It is about standing firm, peacefully and legally, for your vote and your future.”

In a strategic shift towards broader interparty unity, the NUP presidential candidate endorsed several non-NUP candidates, including Tom Ekudo of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Gweri County.

He urged the people of Teso to reject tribal divisions, arguing that the “suffering” caused by unemployment and poor service delivery cuts across all ethnicities. 

'Unauthorised stopovers'

Kyagulanyi's campaign tour was not without challenges. The most dramatic incident occurred on Wednesday (December 17), when security forces intercepted his convoy at Amucu Swamp on his way to Amuria district from Kapelebyong.

 The ensuing three-hour standoff effectively thwarted his final rally of the day, as the delay pushed the campaign beyond the legally mandated 6pm cutoff.

Police later issued a statement blaming the candidate for the missed rally, alleging that he made “unauthorised stopovers” and deviated from the agreed campaign roadmap. 

In response, Kyagulanyi countered that the military and Police were “hounding” his team to prevent him from reaching supporters. 

Tensions remained high into Wednesday night, with security forces using teargas near Soroti City to disperse the retreating convoy.

Kyagulanyi took to social media platform X to claim that the blockade was a deliberate attempt to prevent him from accessing pre-booked accommodation in Amuria and in Soroti. 

He is expected to continue his campaign trail on Monday in Makindye East and West in Kampala, before embarking on a tour to Entebbe Municipality on Tuesday as the January 15 polling date nears.