Excitement builds in Masaka city for Museveni rally

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Excitement over President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rally in Masaka city today, December 22, 2025, started building up last evening, with vehicles fitted with loudspeaker systems passing through several times, blaring out music.

Bodaboda riders donning yellow-coloured attire, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s signature, also hooted and rode around the city to whip up enthusiasm for Museveni's first rally of the day.

There are dozens of giant campaign billboards showing Museveni’s smiling face on the highway and on the streets of the city.

Major roundabouts within the city and its entry points were decorated with yellow and campaign posters of Museveni and the party’s parliamentary candidates, such as Justine Nameere, who is vying for Masaka City Woman seat.

However, given that Masaka is an Opposition stronghold, campaign posters of National Unity Platform party candidates for various elective positions, including Museveni’s chief rival, Robert Kyagulanyi, also line the streets of the city.

Party atmosphere

At the city’s Liberation Square, where Museveni was set to hold the rally by the time of writing this story, there was a party atmosphere. 

A huge stage had been built and music industry bigwigs were entertaining the enthusiastic NRM supporters who were singing along to their popular songs.

Masaka city NRM chairperson Rogers Bulegeya told New Vision Online that they made the most elaborate preparations for Museveni’s rally.

“We expect 4,000 people to attend the rally. Yes, the Opposition have dominated Masaka, but the electorate now has every reason to support Museveni and all the NRM candidates because of the social and economic infrastructure in the district, such as roads, electricity and health centres,” he said.

Joan Nshemereirwe Nnalongo is one of those who have taken advantage of the large crowds at Museveni’s rallies to sell NRM-themed goods ranging from hats, overalls and T-shirts bearing Museveni’s image on the front.

“I have been seeing genuine energy and excitement among NRM supporters in every district Museveni has taken his campaign. Ever since the launch of his campaigns on September 29, I have been arriving at his campaign venues ahead of him to help lay the groundwork for him. We move in groups of 60 vendors,” she said.

Shemereirwe, a mother of seven, is a resident of Kyankwanzi district but hails from Bulemezi in Nakaseke.

On Sunday (December 21), this reporter found her organising her NRM-themed goods for sale at the roadside near the Liberation Square. 

“We arrived here last evening, but many of us haven’t made a sale because of the early morning rain. We had to wait for the rain to stop, and it stopped at 1:00pm,” she said.

She also said they always arrive in an area a day before the President’s arrival. “And we use our own money. When we fail to get buyers, we sleep on verandas and pavements,” she said.

Shemereirwe said they will return home when celebrating Museveni’s victory. “We are just doing this out of love for our President because of the social and political emancipation of women. We have also enjoyed peace and stability for close to 40 years now,” she said.

After addressing his supporters in Masaka, Museveni will head to Bukomansimbi district and hold his second and final campaign rally at Mirembe Muslim Primary School playground in Kitanda sub-county.