Parliament Speakers, ministers electrify Museveni’s campaign rallies

_________________

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and several ministers have created a buzz around President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rallies for the 2026 General Election thanks to musician Eddy Kenzo, who sings with a great burst of energy.

The buzz has been felt in several districts of Lango and West Nile regions, where the President has been wooing voters to re-elect him in next year's general election and consolidate the gains made since 1986.

The ministers, including Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua and state ministers Balaam Barugahara (youth and children affairs), Phiona Nyamutoro (energy) and Evelyn Anite (investment), are always joined on stage by area MPs.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa and National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s central executive committee members Eng Jonard Asiimwe and Arinaitwe Rwakajara occasionally join them.

Among doesn’t waste time when she arrives at a campaign venue. She straight away hits the stage where she dances to Ugandan and Congolese music, to rapturous cheers from the thousands who attend Museveni’s rallies.

The sight of her and the ministers dancing paka chini as Kenzo, Nyamutoro’s husband, sings to them, has had many in these crowds in stitches.

Early in the morning, a big truck painted yellow, the official NRM colour, with loudspeakers blaring out music is always driven around towns to whip up enthusiasm for the President’s rallies.

It repeatedly plays the Tubonga Naawe (We are with you) song in which 12 celebrated local musicians, led by Jose Chameleone, praise Museveni’s government for several outstanding achievements such as fostering peace and women emancipation. 

When the President arrives at the venue, along with the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet, a buzz of excitement goes through the crowd donning yellow T-shirts with Museveni portrait at the front.

They arrive standing through a car sunroof, flashing a thumbs-up sign and smiling at the ecstatic supporters that brave the scorching sun to hear from them in the flesh.

They are always dressed in yellow and black enhanced by hats. The President and the First Lady also wear masks, which became a symbol of the coronavirus pandemic era.

The Speaker and other party bigshots welcome them and soon, three anthems of Uganda, East Africa and the cultural institution of the hosting area are played before different local religious leaders are separately invited to the podium to lead the gathering in a word of prayer.

Shortly afterwards, the President and his wife walk to the podium holding hands as a gesture of affection, showing unity, support, trust, and psychological closeness.

The President then greets his supporters in various local dialects and asks the First Lady to also greet them before he continues with his speech.

This has become a tradition on his campaign trail.

“We thank you Maama for helping and supporting the President. We are very proud of you as women,” Among told Mrs. Museveni on October 14 at Nyadri Urban Secondary School playground in Maracha town council, where the President held his first campaign event of the day.