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President Yoweri Museveni, the chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), made a final campaign push for his party’s candidate, Farida Nambi, in the Kawempe North byelections on Tuesday.
Joined by several high-ranking party officials, including Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and NRM Vice Chairman Hajj Moses Kigongo, Museveni rallied voters, urging them to elect Nambi not just for her personal merit, but for her connection to the ruling party, which he insisted had the ability to solve the country's problems.
Speaking to a large crowd in Kawempe, Museveni said voters should look beyond individual candidates and focus on the party’s capacity to deliver solutions.
Don’t look at Farida Nambi; look at the party first. Ask yourself if the party you are voting for has the capacity to solve your problems, and to understand them. Your vote should not be for personal support for Nambi, but for a person who has a connection to the party that will ultimately solve your problems.
In his address, Museveni outlined the NRM’s long-standing contributions to Kawempe’s development, particularly in areas like Kawanda, Matuggu, and Kigogwa.
These areas, he described as once dense forests from where he used to ambush Milton Obote’s military vehicles, he said have now transformed into thriving hubs of industry, with factories providing much-needed employment.
“The factories that have come up are creating jobs for you,” he said. "You must find ways to benefit from them. These factories came because of the stability brought by the NRM."
Museveni continued by criticising opposition MPs in Kawempe, asserting that they had failed to address the real issues affecting the people.
He pointed to Prime Minister Nabbanja’s recent visit to Kawempe North, where she reported that the funds allocated for the government’s poverty alleviation programmes kile PDM were insufficient due to the high number of families in urban areas.
To resolve this, Museveni promised additional funds for urban centres, but stressed that this could only happen with representatives who were closely aligned with the NRM.
Violence Erupts as NUP Campaigners Clash with Police
Meanwhile, the National Unity Platform (NUP) camp faced challenges during their final campaign day.
Violence broke out in Komamboga as police used teargas and bullets to disperse NUP supporters who were heading to their final rally.
The NUP candidate, Erias Luyimbazi Nalukola, was supposed to campaign in Bwaise, but the event was cancelled by police on the grounds that President Museveni would pass through the area enroute to Kawempe.
Instead, NUP supporters were forced to return to Komamboga for their final rally, where clashes ensued, resulting in several injuries. Nalukola was arrested after his vehicle collided with a police pick-up truck.