Museveni vows to rebut Kyagulanyi, Nandala claims

MBALE - President Yoweri Museveni says he will issue a rebuttal that will address issues raised on their campaign trail around the country by his main rivals: Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and Nandala Mafabi. 

National Unity Platform's Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and Forum for Democratic Change's Mafabi have been very critical of President Museveni's 40-year rule. 

Some of the criticisms made by the two candidates on the 2026 General Election campaign trail have bordered on claims that Museveni's government has abandoned the people and is self-seeking.

“When I look at these people, what they call presidential candidates moving around… When I get time, I will dismantle what they are talking [about],” he said on Monday (November 11, 2025) at State Lodge in Mbale City.

He made the remarks while interacting with journalists from the Sebei sub-region during a live radio and TV talk show.

“As I told you [on the campaign trail], what you call history, I call current affairs. I have been around for a long time (screws his face and rolls his yes). I was here when the British were here and I watched what was happening…” he told journalists.

While wrapping up his Sebei 2026 re-election campaign at Boma Grounds in Kapchorwa Municipality on November 11, Museveni said what his rival candidates have been saying is wrong.

With a sweeping arm gesture, he said, “I don’t have to talk about these people who don’t know what they are doing. I sometimes pick what they are saying…you feel sorry because what they are saying is so wrong. Lakini Mungu Iko (but God is there).”

Museveni is being challenged by seven candidates: National Unity Platform's Robert Kyagulanyi, Forum for Democratic Change's Nandala Mafabi, Alliance for National Transformation's Mugisha Muntu, Joseph Kasibante of the National Peasants Party, and Robert Mabirizi of the Conservative Party.

Others are Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party and Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party.

However, those who have managed to move around the country are Kyagulanyi, Nandala, and Muntu.

They appear to have got substantial funding to run their campaigns, but others are financially limping and have failed to conduct their campaigns in many areas due to a lack of transport.