By Fred Muzaale
A section of residents in Kayunga District has moved to bar local political leaders from participating in the ongoing preparations for President Yoweri Museveni’s victory celebrations, scheduled for April 23, a decision that has sparked anger among some district leaders who question the motive behind their exclusion.
Preparations for the event, which organisers say will be a major celebration of the President’s electoral victory, are in high gear in Kayunga Town, with President Museveni reportedly confirming attendance in person.
The Electoral Commission of Uganda officially declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni winner of the January 17, 2026 general election, securing 7,946,772 votes (71.65 percent), while his main challenger Robert Kyagulanyi garnered 2,741,238 votes (24.72 percent).
The celebrations are being spearheaded by Prossy Naava, an NRM mobiliser and councillor representing Ndeeba Ward in Kayunga Town Council, alongside a team of women and youth mobilisers.
The group says the initiative is purely a grassroots effort meant to celebrate the President’s victory without political interference from district leadership.
Annet Nakizza of Bukolooto village said during one of the preparatory meetings held at Ham Gardens that the organisers deliberately chose to keep local leaders away.
“This victory party is our initiative as local grassroots women and youth, so we don’t expect district leaders to usurp our election victory party,” she said.
Naava also emphasized that while mobilisation for the event is open to the general public, no politician will be allowed to speak or make political statements during the celebrations.
“The victory celebration is meant for NRM supporters to interact, wine and dine with their President, not to report land cases or political wrangles,” she said.
Under the arrangement, only Kayunga Resident District Commissioner Jimmy Nsimbi and Assistant RDC Umar Mitala have attended some of the preparatory meetings, while most elected district leaders, including Members of Parliament, the LC5 chairperson, and district councillors, have been sidelined.
The move has, however, angered some of the excluded leaders, who argue that they are key stakeholders in district affairs and should have been involved.
“I will definitely attend the victory celebrations, but it would have been better if I had been fully involved in the preparations,” one district leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
Another female NRM district councillor said the organisers’ fears of being sidelined were unnecessary, noting that leaders’ participation would have strengthened the event rather than undermined it.
Kayunga District NRM chairperson Moses Karangwa said he is already involved in the planning process by virtue of his position and welcomed the mobilisation efforts.
Meanwhile, RDC Jimmy Nsimbi commended the organisers for their initiative but urged them to ensure smooth coordination for a successful event.
During one of the meetings, Nelson Okrutu said the group also plans to use the occasion to request the President’s intervention in reviving the Shakiti Sugar Factory, which was completed two years ago but remains non-operational due to what she described as political reasons. She said the factory could create much-needed jobs for local youth.
ENDS.
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