President Museveni Blames Vote Protection Gaps for NRM Losses, Opens Buganda Campaign in Mubende

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched the National Resistance Movement (NRM) campaign in the Buganda Sub-region with a strong call for voter vigilance, urging supporters to not only turn up in large numbers but also actively protect their votes to safeguard the people’s will.

Addressing a rally at Kasambya Town Council in Mubende District, despite heavy rainfall, President Museveni reflected on recent electoral history and acknowledged that the NRM suffered a significant setback in Buganda during the last general election, losing an estimated 2.7 million votes. He attributed the loss largely to failure in adequately protecting votes at polling stations rather than a lack of support for the party’s vision and policies.

The President noted that electoral malpractice has been a persistent challenge in Uganda’s political journey since independence in 1962. He said vote theft, manipulation, and interference with election results have historically distorted the people’s choices, emphasizing that such challenges require constant alertness from both leaders and citizens.

“Vote theft did not start today,” Museveni told supporters. “Since 1962, it has been part of our politics. What matters is how prepared and vigilant we are to stop it.”

Museveni assured Ugandans that lessons have been learned and that the electoral process has since been strengthened, particularly through the use of biometric voter verification systems. He explained that these systems are intended to curb manipulation by ensuring that only eligible voters cast ballots and that each person votes only once.

However, the President cautioned that technology alone cannot guarantee free and fair elections without the active participation of citizens. He stressed that every supporter has a responsibility to stay at polling stations, monitor the process, and ensure that results are protected from interference.

“The lesson is vigilance,” he said. “Every supporter must turn up, vote, and protect the vote so that no one interferes with the people’s decision.”

The NRM national chairperson also called on party structures, grassroots mobilisers, and local leaders across Buganda to remain organized and disciplined throughout the campaign and election period. He emphasized that electoral success depends on unity, commitment, and collective responsibility at all levels.

Museveni’s rally in Mubende marked a symbolic entry into the politically influential Buganda Sub-region, which holds a substantial share of Uganda’s voting population. He urged voters to make informed choices based on stability, experience, and long-term national development, rather than short-term emotions or misinformation.

Despite the downpour, supporters braved the weather to attend the rally, signaling renewed enthusiasm as the ruling party seeks to regain lost ground in the region. The President’s message centered on accountability, historical awareness, and civic duty, setting the tone for the NRM’s campaign engagements across Buganda.

The campaign trail is expected to continue through a series of rallies, community meetings, and grassroots outreach activities aimed at consolidating support and reinforcing the importance of peaceful, transparent, and credible elections.