NRM flexes political muscles in Arua ahead of 2026 polls

_________________

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has flexed its political muscles in Arua city in a show of strength to the opposition ahead of the 2026 general election.

Its presidential candidate and incumbent, Yoweri Museveni, who people refer to as an “old man with a hat”, is seeking his seventh consecutive presidential term. He is being challenged by seven candidates, including the 43-year-old musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform party.

By press time, Museveni had begun holding a rally in Madi-Okollo town council before heading to the scenic Arua City Golf Course for his final Monday campaign event.

Road closures and diversions were being implemented around the Arua City Golf Course, and a security checkpoint had been set up outside the grounds amid tight security.

At the Arua City Central Division offices, about 20 members of a brass band were rehearsing before joining a crowd of NRM supporters preparing for a procession through the city. They were mostly young people, with a few older ones, wearing yellow T-shirts bearing Museveni’s portrait.

Others branded their vehicles with campaign posters of Museveni and Jackson Atima, the Arua Central Division MP and NRM candidate in the 2026 general election.

Many open spaces in Arua and other parts of the West Nile region, such as Nebbi and Zombo, have already been covered with campaign posters and billboards of ruling party candidates for various elective positions. Their posters have been placed along main roads, particularly those of the President and parliamentary aspirants.

There are few, if any, campaign posters of opposition presidential candidates in open spaces in Arua city and Nebbi Municipality. This suggests that the opposition still has significant work to do if they are to perform well in next year’s general election.

A large truck painted yellow, the official NRM colour, with loudspeakers blaring music, was being driven around the city to build excitement for the President’s rally. It repeatedly played the Tubonga Naawe (We are with you) song, in which 12 celebrated local musicians, led by Jose Chameleone, praise Museveni’s government for achievements such as fostering peace and promoting women’s emancipation.

There was also a Canter truck playing local music loudly, prompting energetic NRM youth supporters to start dancing.

At the Golf Course, NRM supporters continued streaming in, while on stage, Balaam Barugahara, the youth and children affairs state minister and other senior NRM figures energised the crowd with songs and several paka chini dance moves.

In the last general election, Museveni received 23,824 votes (70.48%) in Arua and 25,779 votes (69.52%) in Madi-Okollo, while Kyagulanyi polled 7,966 votes (23.57%) in Arua and 7,611 votes (20.52%) in Madi-Okollo.

Madi-Okollo, which was carved out of the greater Arua district in 2019, has two constituencies and eight sub-counties. In April 2020, Parliament designated Arua as a regional city for the West Nile sub-region, and it became operational on July 1, 2020.

Previously, Arua district comprised Arua Municipality, Ayivu, Vurra, Terego and Madi-Okollo counties.