Opposition stole 2.7 million Buganda NRM votes in 2021 — Museveni

MUBENDE - President Yoweri Museveni says the Opposition stole 2.7 million National Resistance Movement (NRM) party votes in the last general election in its traditional stronghold of Buganda.

“Now, what they say that Buganda supported the Opposition last time (2021) is not true. I know that they stole 2.7 million votes by stuffing blank sheets of paper [into ballot boxes] or using one voter to vote multiple times, but now all that is impossible,” he said.

He made the remarks on December 15, 2025, while addressing a campaign rally at Kasambya Diocese playground in Mubende district, which marked the start of his vote hunt in Buganda.

Museveni, the NRM Presidential candidate in the forthcoming general election, blamed that loss on the NRM for not adequately protecting their votes.

“The problem was on our side, not protecting the votes well. Now, we have changed the mode of voting. We are going to use a biometric system. Anyone without a fingerprint in the system will not be allowed to vote. So, all of you have to go and vote. No more stealing. They will not steal,” he told a mammoth crowd in Luganda.

He later noted via X, formerly Twitter, that since 1962, vote theft has been a challenge in Uganda’s politics.

“This time, the process was strengthened through biometric systems to prevent manipulation. The lesson is vigilance. Every supporter must turn up, vote, and protect the vote so that no one interferes with the people’s decision,” Museveni said.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) party captured Buganda in the 2021 General Election, with its presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, trouncing Museveni in many districts.

All Cabinet ministers lost their parliamentary seats to the Opposition candidates, especially from NUP, which was formed on July 22, 2020.

However, Museveni managed to win in the districts of Mubende, Sembabule, Rakai, Kyankwanzi, Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Lyantonde, and Kiboga.