Kyagulanyi apologises after no show in Zombo, Madi-Okollo

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National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential flag-bearer Robert Kyagulanyi has apologised to supporters in Zombo and Madi-Okollo after his team failed to reach the two areas on Tuesday.

He said impassable roads derailed his West Nile region campaign schedule.

Kyagulanyi, who is touring the region, said his convoy struggled to navigate the poor road network, forcing the cancellation of planned rallies in the deeper parts of Zombo district and cutting short his stop in Madi-Okollo.

“Our apologies go to the people of the deeper area of Zombo who were waiting for us,” said Kyagulanyi, who conducted only one of the two rallies he was supposed to hold there. 

“Owing to the bad roads, we could not make it on time. Even in Madi-Okollo, at least we wanted to set foot there.”

He said the experience reflects a wider pattern of what he termed as government neglect in West Nile. He claimed that residents have been left behind due to chronic underinvestment in infrastructure.

Kyagulanyi made the remarks while addressing journalists in Nebbi ahead of his rallies in Arua on November 19, 2025.

The NUP candidate said the poor roads not only disrupted movement but also hampered mobilisation efforts and contributed to missed engagements with communities that had turned up early to receive him.

Despite the setbacks, he thanked supporters in Pakwach, Zombo town and Nebbi for what he described as a “massive welcome” and assured residents in affected areas that the party would return.

“We know you were waiting for us,” he said. “We shall keep coming back because this struggle belongs to all of us.”

An act of cowardice

During the same briefing, Kyagulanyi accused government officials and the Electoral Commission of working to eliminate political competition ahead of the 2026 elections. He criticised the decision to declare Phiona Nyamutoro unopposed at the expense of NUP's Rebecca Abedican in the race for Nebbi Woman Parliamentary seat, calling it “a scandal” and “an act of cowardice.”

“They removed comrade Rebecca from the race. We are in court to make sure she is on the ballot paper because she is winning with over 70%,” he said. 

“These people are so ashamed that they are trying to remove any competition. No wonder the EC blocked Akena from nominating. No wonder they tried to block me.”

Kyagulanyi also spoke about his planned visit to Arua, saying the town carries deep emotional significance for him and the NUP, recalling the 2018 incident in which his driver, Yasin Kawuma, was shot dead, and the November 2020 protests in which more than 50 people were killed.

“For me, fresh memories of 2018 come back whenever we go to Arua. We came with Yasin Kawuma, but we did not go back with him,” he said. 

He said many of those killed or arrested during the protests were innocent and not involved in politics, adding that several NUP supporters remain missing, imprisoned, or maimed.

Kyagulanyi said his November 19 visit to Arua is intended to “recharge the struggle for freedom” and promote unity across different regions.

“Our mission is to unite our country, to start looking at each other not through tribal lenses but as Ugandans,” he said. “We go to Arua to connect the hope and pain of the people of West Nile to the rest of the country.”

He urged Ugandans to “take charge of their country” despite the challenges facing the opposition.

“We can only promise you that we’ll never give up. We’ll never betray the struggle of the people of Uganda,” he said. “It is not over until it’s over.”