Shun the Opposition, minister Mugasa tells Buliisa voters as over 20 cross to NRM

_____________

BULIISA - Public Service State Minister, Grace Mary Mugasa, has urged Buliisa district-based voters to shun the Opposition but instead support the ruling party for the continued development and protection of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)'s gains.

Mugasa made the appeals while receiving over 20 youth claiming to have been National Unity Platform (NUP) party members who defected to NRM.

The group of youth handed over NUP party cards, T-shirts, caps and party umbrellas to the minister at a mid-November meeting between the fishing community, the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), district leaders and National Security Mobilisation Task Force senior soldiers for the Bunyoro cluster. The meeting was aimed at tackling issues affecting the fishing community and mobilising support for President Yoweri Museveni on the shores of Lake Albert in Buliisa district in the 2026 General Election.

The meeting held at Walukuba landing site in Buliisa district was attended by Kikuube cluster head Brig. Gen. Tingira Irumba Ateenyi, Buliisa district cluster head Ben Kisembo, FPU commander Lt Col. Marcy Tukahirwa and Buliisa district chairperson Fred Lukumu, among others.

Those who crossed to NRM included Robert Byaruhanga, Robert Basima, Niclaus Tumusiime, Julius Babihemaiso, Robert Katusiime, Craver Kabanda, Jorum Tumuhaise, Robinson Katusiime, Elvin Baguma, Johnson Bihangwa, Tumwesige Mugisa, Josper Tumwesige, Allan Kato, Pius Tumwesige and Tom Ajuna, among others.

State Minister for Public Service (on right holding NUP card) posing for a photo with the defectors after she dressed them in NRM T-shirts. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

A winning party which understands Ugandans' challenges

While receiving the defectors, Mugasa commended the youth for their decision to join the NRM party, which she said is the winning party which understands the challenges of all Ugandans, including the youth.

She challenged the defectors to ignore self-seekers who want to use them for their self-political interest, but instead support NRM because it has a good future for Uganda.

“You have made a right decision to join NRM, please you should not be duped to go back to NUP because it has no future, we are going to present you to the president when he comes to Buliisa for his campaign, he will shake your hands, so go out there and mobilise your colleagues still in NUP to come and join NRM, a winning party,” she appealed.

Mugasa also challenged the voters of Buliisa district to shun Opposition candidates and only support President Museveni and all NRM flag-bearers, whom they will be able to demand services.

She cited the ongoing oil development in the area and tarmacking of roads such as Hoima, Butiaba, Buliisa, and Wanseko road as some of the development NRM government has implemented in the area.

Mugasa boasted of the prevailing peace and security enjoyed by the County and also praised livelihood initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme, and Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), which the government initiated for poverty eradication, adding that all these developments are enough for Ugandans to support and vote for NRM overwhelmingly.

Increasing land grabbing

During the meeting, Lukumu urged the Government to intervene in the increasing land grabbing in the area that has left many residents suffering and failing to engage in development.

 He also cited persistent challenges being faced by fishing communities, ranging from constant attacks from Congolese militias, extortion, lack of alternative sources of income, and illegal fishing.

However, Mugasa urged the fishing community to remain calm, saying that the Government is committed to addressing the challenges.

 “President Museveni has committed to supporting the fishing community with shillings one billion to boost their business. The issue of land, I'm going to table it to the lands minister to intervene. President Museveni has ordered the deployment of more security personnel on the waters of Lake Albert to handle the Congolese militias who have continued to harass our people,” the minister said.

One of the defectors, Robert Byaruhanga, said that they were misled to join NUP on the premise of finding a solution to their challenges, including unemployment, in vain.

 “We have no jobs, no startup capital to start our own income-generating activities. Now that we have joined NRM, we request our good President to find a solution to the challenge of youth employment”, he said.