Museveni warns NUP against fresh insurrection plots

KAMPALA – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has accused the National Unity Platform (NUP) of orchestrating the 2021 machete attacks in Greater Masaka that left 28 elderly people brutally killed, as he warned of what he described as fresh opposition schemes to destabilize the country during the recently concluded elections.

In his post-election statement to Ugandans — particularly addressing the youth, whom he fondly calls the Bazzukulu — Museveni alleged that the same group behind the Masaka killings had planned a large-scale insurrection aimed at disrupting the voting process.

“You remember the 28 elders that were cut by machete (panga) wielders in Masaka in 2021? That was the work of NUP,” Museveni said. “This time they had planned a big insurrection to stop the voting.”

According to the President, the alleged plot was foiled through cooperation between security forces and what he described as the “majority of the masses,” who refused to be drawn into violence.

However, he warned that the threat has not entirely disappeared.

“They still have schemes they are hatching, working with some criminal foreigners — mercenaries,” he said. “We shall crush them.”

Museveni revealed that some of the cases linked to the alleged plots will be prosecuted in court, promising that the public will eventually hear the evidence presented.

“Some of the cases will come to court. You will hear the facts,” he stated.

The President further claimed that reports of planned violence had caused fear among some voters, discouraging them from participating in the electoral process.

“The public get to hear those schemes and some stay away from the voting, fearing possible trouble,” he said.

He urged National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadres to strengthen grassroots engagement, remain transparent, and counter what he termed “criminal opposition schemes” by maintaining close ties with citizens.

“That is why the NRM cadres should be close with the people, honest with them and encourage them to ignore the schemes of the criminal opposition, but also be ready to crush any scheme of the traitors,” he emphasized.

Museveni maintained that despite the alleged attempts to undermine the electoral process, the NRM secured victory due to its strong support base and the introduction of Biometric Voter Verification (BVV) machines, which he said curtailed electoral fraud.

He described the overall campaign atmosphere as largely peaceful and celebratory, drawing parallels to earlier elections where he said voters rejected divisive politics.

The President concluded by calling for principled reconciliation among Ugandans, urging citizens to abandon hostility and work toward resolving political differences constructively.

“We should act fairly to all, even opposition,” he said, while reaffirming his government’s readiness to confront what he described as threats to national stability.