The Deputy President of Uganda's opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) for Western Uganda, Jacklyn Jolly Tukamushaba, has called for a significant ramping up of mobilization efforts in Kabale District. During a district mobilizer election event on Tuesday, Tukamushaba expressed concerns over what she described as widespread vote rigging in the Kigezi sub-region and urged party supporters to bolster efforts for the upcoming 2026 elections.
Tukamushaba rejected the perception that the Kigezi area is firmly controlled by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Instead, she attributed NRM's success to what she referred to as "electoral malpractice" in the region, noting that many voters report their ballots being disregarded despite voting in large numbers.
To counter this, Tukamushaba outlined the NUP's plan to enhance its grassroots organization by establishing structures at every polling station, ensuring party agents are present during elections to monitor the process closely. "In 2021, we faced challenges due to our disorganization, but now we must build stronger structures from the village level up," she emphasized, stressing that securing votes begins with effective mobilization.
Tukamushaba is optimistic that a stronger grassroots effort will lead to a significant shift in Western Uganda's political landscape by 2026. She expressed confidence that NUP will gain increased support in the region by protecting votes and building a robust network of local leaders.
Additionally, Tukamushaba criticized the involvement of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT) in election-related activities, particularly highlighting the alleged mistreatment of NUP candidate Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola during the recent Kawempe North parliamentary by-election. She accused the security forces of unfairly targeting opposition politicians and emphasized the need for law enforcement to uphold order rather than engage in violence against opposition members.
The newly elected NUP Chairperson for Kabale District, Derrick Katebire, outlined plans to create 43-member committees at the village level to strengthen the party's presence and broaden its reach. These committees, along with additional task forces at the parish and sub-county levels, aim to solidify NUP’s grassroots network across the district.
Tukamushaba’s remarks and the formation of these new structures reflect NUP's growing determination to challenge the longstanding dominance of NRM in Western Uganda and ensure fairer electoral processes in future elections.
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