Reject Voter Bribery -Museveni Tells Ugandans, as 2026 Polls Loom

KITUNTU, MPIIGI | June 18, 2025 — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a stern call to Ugandans: reject voter bribery and defend your democratic power. As the country inches closer to the 2026 general elections, Museveni urged citizens to resist short-term temptations and prioritize national interest over personal gain.

“Why should you be influenced and throw away your power to elect your desired candidate?” the President asked thousands gathered at a rally in Kituntu Sub-county, Mpigi District. “When you see someone bringing money, avoid them. You have the power — don’t throw it away.”

The address marked the final leg of his nationwide Parish Development Model (PDM) tour in Greater Mpigi, a region encompassing Mpigi, Butambala, and Gomba districts.

In a pointed reference to the controversial 2021 elections, Museveni claimed the opposition rigged 2.7 million votes due to alleged negligence by some within the ruling NRM. But he assured Ugandans that history would not repeat itself.

“We have introduced biometric machines to ensure everybody votes only once,” he said. “We shall not allow vote rigging anymore.”

        184 Defectors Join NRM

In a symbolic boost to the ruling party, 184 defectors from other political affiliations crossed over to the NRM, pledging loyalty to Museveni’s movement. The crowd erupted in cheers as their names were read out, further energizing the party’s 2026 campaign momentum.

Wealth Creation, Not Just Politics

While politics was on the agenda, Museveni kept returning to a central message: poverty is personal — and solvable.

“When you return home from this rally, your poverty is still there,” he said. “That’s why the NRM is not in politics for drama but to help you get out of poverty.”

He spotlighted successful PDM beneficiaries like Ms. Rashida Namubiru of Butambala and Ms. Namutebi Deborah of Gomba, who are thriving in poultry and animal husbandry, as examples of what is possible under the program.

The government’s plan? Inject Shs100 million into each parish annually for five years, with an expected Shs800 million circulating in each SACCO by 2030 thanks to repayments and reinvestments.

“You don’t have to borrow from moneylenders anymore,” the President said. “Each parish will have its own financial muscle.”

So far, Shs 33.4 billion has been disbursed across 130 SACCOs in the three districts, with Mpigi receiving the lion’s share at Shs 14.4 billion.

    Jobs Beyond Government

Museveni also addressed Uganda’s employment challenge, noting that the government can only offer about 480,000 jobs, a drop in the ocean compared to the 46 million-strong population.

“Wealth creation is the surest path to job creation,” he emphasized, citing the example of Hon. Fred Byamukama, Minister of State for Transport, whose private farm in Kagadi employs over 26 people.

Development Gains, Health Priorities

Museveni touted peace, roads, electricity, and education as cornerstones of Uganda’s development under the NRM. Comparing his school days in 1961 — when Uganda had only six A-Level schools — to the 28 government A-Level schools now in Greater Mpigi, the President urged leaders to educate citizens about Uganda’s progress since 1986.

On health, he confirmed plans to build a district hospital in Mpigi, aligned with the NRM’s promise of one hospital per district. He encouraged vaccination drives for children, cervical cancer prevention for girls, and a renewed fight against HIV/AIDS through abstinence and fidelity.

“I’m now 80 years old. Who has ever heard that Museveni is sick and admitted to hospital?” he quipped. “Even in the bush for five years, we never fell ill.”

Rallying for 2026: “Don’t Repeat 2021 Mistakes”

NRM Vice Chairperson for Buganda, Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi, rallied supporters to back Museveni and all NRM flagbearers in the 2026 elections. He described the 2021 outcome — where NRM won only 31 out of 105 Buganda parliamentary seats — as an embarrassment that must be overturned.

     A National Vision

Museveni’s PDM tour in Greater Mpigi followed similar visits across Uganda, from Masaka to Karamoja and West Nile to Rwenzori. The goal: lift 3.5 million households out of subsistence farming by 2026 through localized economic empowerment.