Kyagulanyi accuses NRM of sidelining greater Nebbi, pledges servant leadership
Kyagulanyi accused the NRM of entrenched vote-rigging since 1996 and urged residents to turn out in large numbers and protect their votes on 15 January 2026.
Nebbi: National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, has accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of deliberately marginalizing the Greater Nebbi sub-region, claiming it has been denied essential services and infrastructure throughout the party’s nearly 40 years in power.
Kyagulanyi arrived in Zombo District at around 1:00 PM, first making a stop at the gravesite of one of his bodyguards who was buried last year in Kaya Trading Centre. Enthusiastic supporters dressed in the NUP’s signature red overalls, T-shirts, and ribbons lined the streets as his convoy passed through Paidha Town Council, with whistles and vuvuzelas blaring in celebration.
Addressing a massive crowd at Kyambogo University Playground in Paidha Town Council on Tuesday, 18 November, during the second day of his West Nile campaign tour, Kyagulanyi criticized the lack of tarmac roads in Zombo, dilapidated school buildings, underfunded health facilities, and salary disparities that he said have divided teachers.
“The NRM has squandered 39 years yet left Zombo and West Nile trapped in underdevelopment. No tarmac, no medicines, demoralised health workers and teachers earning peanuts while they loot trillions this is not failure, it is a political strategy of keeping regions on their knees,” Kyagulanyi charged.
Nicknamed “Jalar” (Saviour) by locals, Kyagulanyi outlined his alternative agenda, promising that an NUP government would rebuild the healthcare system with adequate funding and better pay for medical workers, end salary discrimination among teachers, provide free quality education with modern facilities, reduce taxes on boda bodas, compensate war victims, release political prisoners, and wage a fierce anti-corruption campaign.
Kyagulanyi accused the NRM of entrenched vote-rigging since 1996 and urged residents to turn out in large numbers and protect their votes on 15 January 2026.
“Every stolen vote is a betrayal of Uganda’s future,” he said, pledging to end what he described as decades of dictatorship, tribalism, nepotism, and corruption through servant leadership.
More than ten NUP candidates, from councillor to parliamentary level, were presented to the crowd as senior party leaders called for a sweeping victory for the red-beret movement.
Abedican Mercy, the Alur sub-region coordinator, called for an end to what she described as 40 years of unfulfilled promises.
Asega Jogo, the West Nile coordinator, handed Kyagulanyi a memorandum from Zombo residents demanding revival of the tea project and Okoro Cooperative Society.
Linda Zedriga, NUP deputy president for Northern Uganda, urged voters to remain vigilant against electoral fraud.
Local residents expressed frustration over stalled projects and unfulfilled government commitments. Paidha’s Sunday Okweda criticized the uncompleted 119-km Nebbi–Paidha–Vurra road, while Mercy Kacwiny welcomed the pledge to resolve salary challenges affecting teachers. Elder Okweda Godfred vowed to support NUP to end corruption that he said has crippled service delivery.
After launching his West Nile campaign in Pakwach on Monday and holding a night rally in Nebbi Municipality on Tuesday, Kyagulanyi is scheduled to continue to Arua City and Arua District on Wednesday.
With Zombo traditionally an NRM stronghold, often delivering more than 80 percent of the vote to the ruling party since 1996, the massive turnout and growing support boosted by strong independent candidates challenging NRM incumbents suggest shifting political dynamics ahead of the 2026 general elections.
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