President Yoweri Museveni on Monday drew a huge crowd at Booma Grounds in Mbarara City, where he asked residents of both the city and the district to overwhelmingly back all National Resistance Movement candidates in the 2026 general elections.
Arriving with the First Lady, Janet Museveni, the President received a warm welcome from thousands of supporters as he continued his campaign trail across the Ankole sub-region.
In his address, he reminded the gathering that the NRM’s biggest achievement has been restoring peace across the entire country. He contrasted the current stability with the turbulent years of 1972, 1979 and 1985, saying Uganda now enjoys calm from border to border because the NRM put an end to divisive politics based on tribe, religion, gender and other lines. According to him, this unity allowed the country to build strong institutions such as the army, police and the judiciary.
Museveni also underlined development as a key pillar of his government’s legacy. He pointed to major improvements in infrastructure, particularly the national road network, and confirmed that government plans to construct the Biharwe–Bwizibwera road to boost movement in the region. He added that electricity coverage has expanded significantly and now reaches most parts of the country.
Turning to wealth creation, the President urged Ugandans to move beyond depending solely on government development projects and begin focusing on raising income at household level. He shared the example of George Matongo from Ngoma, who reportedly earns 21 million shillings every month from dairy farming despite living far from a tarmac road or electricity line.
Museveni encouraged families with small pieces of land to embrace the four-acre model, advising them to plant coffee, fruits, pasture for zero-grazing, and food crops, while using their backyard space for additional ventures like poultry or piggery. He stressed that Uganda is one of the few African countries where government directly gives citizens financial support to fight poverty, insisting that good roads alone will not benefit families that remain poor.
For town residents, he pointed to government skilling centres training youth in welding, tailoring, hairdressing, bakery and other trades that can earn money without owning land. He said 30 percent of Ugandans are still outside the money economy, and bringing them in remains a priority.
He further noted that job creation under the NRM continues to grow through commercial agriculture, manufacturing, ICT and the expanding services sector. Museveni appealed to the people of Mbarara to keep supporting the party, saying the NRM has clearly shown its role in transforming Uganda.
The First Lady praised the unity and huge turnout in Mbarara, describing it as a powerful message to the rest of the country. She urged residents to intensify door-to-door mobilisation and aim for near-total support for the NRM in 2026. She reminded them that crowds at rallies must translate into actual votes.
Mbarara District NRM Chairperson Prosper Atuheise thanked the President for building a party that unites Ugandans and for the development programmes implemented in the district, including improved roads and the Parish Development Model.
Mbarara City NRM Chairperson Wilson Tumwine expressed gratitude for the planned upgrade of Nyakisharara Airfield into an international airport. He asked government to also consider constructing a modern stadium in Mbarara to support sports and nurture young talent.