Robert Kyagulanyi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) president, has called for urgent prayers for the nation and its children, expressing hope that none will grow up to emulate the behavior of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
This comes after the NRM announced plans to legally challenge the results of the recently concluded Kawempe North by-election.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kyagulanyi expressed disbelief at the NRM’s decision, questioning the moral compass of its leadership and he highlighted alleged electoral malpractices, including the abduction of NUP agents, voter intimidation, bribery, and tampering with election forms, yet emphasized that NUP still emerged victorious.
Kyagulanyi’s post read: “Naye banange, where did SHAME go? Just heard on the news that Museveni is claiming he was rigged in Kawempe North! The same shameless despot who abducted our agents, beat our supporters, bribed voters, deployed security forces inside polling stations, and altered DR Forms to inflate his votes by 700, 400, 300, etc.—AND WE STILL BEAT HIM. How can a man of his age choose to go down with so much shame?”
He further criticized President Yoweri Museveni for what he described as a desperate attempt to gain support in Kampala and other urban areas. Kyagulanyi accused the NRM of using stolen funds to sponsor propaganda, buy off artists and socialites, and manipulate the media to discredit NUP but despite these efforts, he noted that Ugandans continue to reject the ruling party.
Kyagulanyi also referenced the 2021 general elections, accusing Museveni of rigging one million votes and challenging him to an independent audit—a challenge he claims Museveni has ignored. He concluded by urging Ugandans to pray for the nation and its children, hoping that no child grows up to embody such “shameless” behavior.
Meanwhile, the NRM has officially rejected the Kawempe North by-election results. Richard Todwong, the party’s secretary general, stated that the Central Executive Committee (CEC), chaired by President Museveni, resolved to challenge the results in court. Todwong cited allegations of violence, voter intimidation, and rigging as reasons for their decision.
“The by-election was marred by violence, voter intimidation, and alleged rigging. Despite this, the Independent Electoral Commission declared NUP’s Erias Nalukoola the winner,” Twodong said.
He added that many NRM supporters, including women and the elderly, were prevented from voting, disenfranchising them and undermining their democratic rights.
Twodong emphasized that the NRM would not accept such disenfranchisement, recalling that the party’s struggle in the 1980s was rooted in fighting similar injustices. “We will legally challenge the declaration of these results to ensure justice prevails,” he stated.
The Kawempe North by-election has once again highlighted the deep political divisions in Uganda, with both sides accusing each other of undermining democracy. As the legal battle unfolds, the nation watches closely to see how this latest chapter in Uganda’s political saga will unfold.
