Museveni, Kyagulanyi set for final campaign showdown in Kampala

KAMPALA, Uganda — Presidential candidates in Uganda are returning to the capital this week for a final push ahead of Thursday’s election, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown between President Yoweri Museveni and his primary challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi.

The two front-runners are scheduled to hold back-to-back rallies in Kampala Central, a strategic district with more than 1.5 million registered voters. Kyagulanyi, the pop star turned politician better known as Bobi Wine, will hold events Monday at Kamwokya Katale playground and Aga Khan Grounds.

Museveni, representing the National Resistance Movement, is expected to conclude his campaign Tuesday at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM director for information and publicity, said the party chose the city center to maintain a long-standing tradition. He noted the location’s proximity to the State House would allow the president an easy commute following the event.

The NRM is working to reclaim political territory in the capital. While the party has historically struggled to win the presidency in Kampala, the 2021 elections saw the newly formed National Unity Platform sweep nearly all parliamentary seats in the area.

Security forces have already established a significant presence near the planned rally sites. Military vehicles blocked roads leading to Kololo on Monday morning as crews began erecting tents and stages.

David Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP secretary general, said the party chose to end its campaign in the capital to celebrate the momentum built across the country. He described the NUP as a symbol of hope for voters seeking an end to economic hardship and discrimination.

The central region, which includes Kampala and Wakiso districts, represents the largest voting bloc in the nation with approximately 3.7 million voters. In the previous election, Kyagulanyi defeated Museveni in Kampala by more than 360,000 votes, a shift that also saw several high-ranking Cabinet ministers lose their parliamentary seats.

Kyagulanyi is scheduled to move his campaign to the neighboring Wakiso District on Tuesday, visiting Nansana Municipality and Busiro East to wrap up his bid for the presidency.