Turyahikayo withdraws from Masindi Municipality MP race
He stressed that this culture has disenfranchised the youth, who may have leadership potential but lack financial muscle.
Masindi: In a major political development ahead of the 2026 general elections, Innocent Turyahikayo, a member of the Democratic Party (DP), has announced his withdrawal from the race for Member of Parliament, Masindi Municipality.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, September 15, at Albertine Palace Gardens in Masindi Town, Turyahikayo said his decision was influenced by internal challenges within the party, and the growing commercialization of politics, which he says is limiting youth participation in governance.
“As a member of the Democratic Party, I have disagreed with how things are being run in the party, this is public knowledge. We cannot preach wine and serve water. My next course of action is to work with like-minded democrats to rebuild the party to reflect the aspirations of Ugandans,” Turyahikayo explained.
The former candidate strongly criticized the role of money in Uganda’s politics, warning that it has turned elections into transactional contests, where the wealthy dominate at the expense of service-oriented leadership.
“Today’s politics is no longer about service but transaction. Candidates spend over UGX 200 million just to win an election in poverty-stricken communities. Once elected, they focus on recovering what they invested, mostly through corruption,” he stated.
He stressed that this culture has disenfranchised the youth, who may have leadership potential but lack financial muscle.
“The young people of Masindi are being used as campaign tools rather than decision-makers. We need to organize our youth into meaningful blocks that challenge the status quo and advocate for fair representation,” he added.
Despite exiting the MP race, Turyahikayo vowed to remain active in public advocacy, community development, and political education, with an emphasis on organizing youth, promoting social accountability, and fighting transactional politics.
According to Turyahikayo, his next focus will, organizing youth into leadership blocks for meaningful political participation and access to resources, championing social accountability and human rights, including audits on service delivery and tracking community projects and also documenting and addressing human rights trends, and advocating for inclusive development programs, scholarships, and equitable job opportunities.
“These words do not mark the end of my political journey. They are an opportunity to refocus and consolidate our achievements. I will continue to offer servant leadership, rooted in empathy, community building, and accountability,” he affirmed.
Turyahikayo urged voters in Masindi to elect corrupt-free, service-oriented leaders, and to remain vigilant and engaged in shaping the district’s political future.
“I appeal to the people of Masindi to reject leaders who see elections as investments. Choose those who will serve with integrity and accountability. Our community deserves better,” he said.
While stepping down from the 2026 race, Turyahikayo remains a committed public servant and promises to continue contributing to Masindi’s development through civic engagement and grassroots initiatives.
With Turyahikayo out of the race, the contest now includes; Joab Businge, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the incumbent, Vincent Tumwesige on Independent ticket, Rogers Byamukama on National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket while National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate is yet to be vetted.
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