President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s campaign rally in Kitebi, Rubaga Division, laid bare deep-seated urban challenges ranging from market evictions and delayed compensation to youth unemployment and frustrations over the Parish Development Model (PDM), as residents openly confronted both government officials and ruling party leaders.
Residents used the rally to voice long-standing grievances affecting daily livelihoods in one of Kampala’s most densely populated divisions. Isaac Mulangira, a resident of Kitebi, said Kasubi Market urgently requires expansion, noting that congestion has forced many vendors to operate dangerously close to the railway line.
“The numbers are overwhelming. Vendors are risking their lives near the railway. We need proper working space, not promises,” Mulangira said, adding that government should also prioritize skills training for youths to enable self-employment.
Market-related concerns dominated the discussions. Musa Mbaziira, the NRM candidate for Rubaga South, warned that vendors at Nateete Market face imminent eviction by a private landlord. He urged government to buy off the land to secure the market permanently.
Mbaziira also reminded the President that several residents displaced by the construction of Busega Market are still awaiting compensation years later, a delay that has continued to fuel resentment among affected families.
Tensions rose when Ivan Kamuntu Majjambere, the NRM Rubaga Division Chairperson, told the President that PDM and Emyooga were performing well in the area. His remarks were met with loud boos from sections of the crowd, an unusual reaction that did not go unnoticed by senior party leaders in attendance.
The audience reaction was later echoed by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who directly asked the President to intervene, saying PDM was not delivering as expected in Rubaga. She called for special funding mechanisms targeting youths and women in urban areas, arguing that current models are failing Kampala’s unique economic realities.
Fred Kateregga Matama, a resident, delivered one of the strongest rebukes, blaming poor implementation rather than policy design.
“You would not even still be looking for votes in Buganda if the people around you were implementing these programs properly,” he said. “There is nothing like PDM here in Kampala.”
Samuel Kalumba, another resident, noted that they need urgent government intervention to fix the poor sewage system in Nalukolongo, describing it as a persistent health hazard for the community.
In his response, President Museveni acknowledged some of the concerns and pledged to buy off land accommodating Nateete Market to protect vendors from eviction and ensure uninterrupted business operations.
On PDM, the President maintained that the initiative has a clear and structured system of disbursement, questioning why irregularities continue to be reported. He vowed to crack down on corrupt implementers, warning that stolen funds directly deprive Ugandans.
“We are going to deal with those who steal. What they steal is stolen from here in Uganda,” Museveni said, while also urging voters to elect leaders capable of effectively supervising government programs.
Addressing unemployment, the President encouraged urban residents to embrace vocational skills such as carpentry, welding and mechanics, particularly for those without land for farming or animal rearing.
NRM Deputy Secretary General Namayanja Nsereko presented candidates contesting for various positions, who were officially endorsed and handed party flags by the President. These included Musa Mbaziira (Rubaga South), Amina Lukanga (Kampala Woman MP), Singh Katongole (Rubaga North), Moses Kizito (Lord Mayor), Pasqueen Achayo (Workers MP at national level), and Charles Ssemwogerere (Rubaga Division).
The Kitebi rally underscored the growing disconnect between national policy intentions and local implementation, with Rubaga residents demanding tangible solutions as the 2026 electoral contest gathers momentum.
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