NRM leaders rally Kayunga voters, cite infrastructure gains

__________________

National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders have Friday (January 2, 2026) rallied supporters in Kayunga district, urging voters to back the ruling party in the upcoming elections while highlighting government infrastructure projects and pledging improved service delivery.

Speaking at Busaana town council playgrounds ahead of presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s rally, NRM central executive committee (CEC) member Anita Annet Among thanked residents for supporting her in the party elections and appealed for renewed political backing for the President and other NRM candidates, saying this would secure further development for the district.

“I want to thank the people of Kayunga for voting for me in the NRM CEC elections. I also want to thank President Museveni because he has been able to work on Isimba Dam, and we shall make it a tourism attraction,” Among, who is also the Speaker of Parliament, said.

Linking continued development to political support for the ruling party, Among said, “All you are left with is to bring NRM into leadership. Bring back Amos Lugoloobi so that he can grow to Cabinet minister since he is now a state minister.”

She also asked voters to support area NRM Woman Member of Parliament flag-bearer Jackline Birungi and promised wider benefits if the party retains power in the district.

“I want to request you to give Jackline Birungi your vote. I want to assure you that once you vote for NRM throughout, you will receive all the good things in Kayunga,” she said.

PDM fund allocation

Speaker Among acknowledged gaps in government programmes, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that it had not reached everyone.

“We have PDM, but it does not cover everybody, especially youth and women, and I have asked that the budget be brought to Parliament so that more funds can be allocated,” she said.

Among further pointed to planned road works, noting that funding had recently been approved for a sh331 billion Kayunga–Galilaya to Kamuli District road.

Planning state minister Amos Lugoloobi, who is seeking re-election, told residents that he would continue to prioritise their needs if returned to office.

“As I have been doing is how I will do if voted. The people have asked for power and boreholes and feeder roads, and wealth creation funds. All these we shall do,” Lugoloobi said.

Peace

Birungi based her appeal on the issue of stability, contrasting Uganda with countries affected by conflict.

“If you look at many countries around like Libya, they don’t have peace, but for us we have peace and we thank God for that,” Birungi said.

She urged voters to reject Opposition candidates challenging President Museveni, saying; “Those who want the chair of President Museveni, we shall not vote them. I promise to serve you, God being my helper.”

The appeals come as the NRM seeks to regain ground in Kayunga and neighbouring Mukono, districts where the ruling party performed poorly in the 2021 general elections.

In Kayunga District, out of 190,977 registered voters, President Museveni received 35,881 votes, representing 35 per cent of total votes cast.

Opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi won with 64,172 votes, or 62.6 per cent, while Patrick Amuriat Oboi garnered 571 votes.

In Mukono District, Museveni secured 48,062 votes, equivalent to 25.71 percent of the 355,275 registered voters. Kyagulanyi won 134,591 votes, or 71.98 percent, while Amuriat received 1,148 votes.

A Vision Group survey of 6,006 Ugandans of voting age, conducted between March and May 2025 across 45 districts and 17 sub-regions, showed that road networks and transport issues was the leading concern at 19.1 percent, followed by health at 16.8 percent. Poverty accounted for 12.4 percent, education 10.1 percent and employment 8.7 percent.

The government has pointed to ongoing and planned infrastructure projects as part of its response to these concerns.

In Mukono district, roads at various stages of completion include the 14-kilometre Nambole–Namilyango–Seeta–Mukono road, the 10.5-kilometre Bweyogerere–Jokas–Namanve–Mukono Uganda Christian University road, and the 0.6-kilometre Mukono Town Junction road.

In the NRM manifesto, President Museveni pledged continued investment in transport, stating: “Our promise is that NRM will complete rehabilitation of the Tororo–Gulu Metre Gauge Railway line and the refurbishment of the Mukono–Jinja Metre Gauge Railway line.”

Other commitments include completing the ongoing construction of 184 solar-powered piped water systems in rural communities of Mukono and Kayunga, constructing new piped water supply systems, expanding sewage treatment systems in Mukono sub-catchments, increasing the number of High Court circuits, and completing the construction of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal buildings.

In Kayunga District, the 89-kilometre Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya road is among the major infrastructure projects at various stages of completion, which NRM leaders say demonstrate the government’s development agenda as they seek renewed support from voters.