The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has launched a new voter mobilisation campaign to reclaim the central region in the 2026 general elections.
Dubbed Kisoboka (it is possible) Agricultural Expo- 2024′, the drive will, among other things, help the NRM enhance productivity and wealth creation among the people.
The drive, which was launched by the party secretary general, Richard Todwong, at the Kavumba Recreation Centre in Wakiso town council on Thursday will begin in districts that make up the central region on July 16 and end on October 16, before it is expanded to other parts of the country.
Todwong explained that they will mobilise Ugandans to join commercial agriculture with a focus on increasing production of coffee and wealth creation.
“This is the gospel we intend to spread throughout the central region among our people. It is consistent with President Yoweri Museveni’s message of improving people’s livelihoods,” he said.
Todwong also said they will attract Ugandans, especially youth, to agriculture by showcasing the success and positive stories of individuals that are already doing well in intensive farming.
“Museveni is expected to be the chief guest at the closure of the drive every week in each sub-region in central, “Todwong said.
According to the NRM secretariat, this mindset change initiative is the brainchild of the party’s vice-chairperson for the central region, Godfrey Kiwanda. During the launch, Kiwanda said the planned expos are in line with the NRM manifesto and the National Development Plan III of socio-economic transformation among citizens through commercial agriculture.
He urged Ugandans to embrace the latest poverty alleviation programmes, such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, to access free seedlings and acquire knowledge from extension workers.
The NRM deputy secretary general, Rose Namayanja, challenged leaders at all levels to empower their people through various income-generating projects.
“I implore the leaders to spread the information on good farming practices to people in the villages. This is the only way to improve the lives of Ugandans. Our trail must show that we are moving in the right direction,” she said.
DISMAL PERFORMANCE
In the last general elections, the NRM suffered heavy casualties in the central, when all Cabinet ministers lost their parliamentary seats to opposition candidates, especially from the formed National Unity Platform.
Ofwono Opondo, the head of the Uganda Media Centre, recently said that between 1996 and 2001, the margin of victory countrywide for NRM and President Museveni narrowed from 76% to 58.06% now.
He said in major towns and all districts in Buganda and Busoga, the decline has been disastrous.
“In 2021, Museveni did not win any district in Buganda and marginally carried Namayingo, Namutumba and Kaliro in Busoga. Many analysts believe that NRM and Museveni lost these areas not because the opposition had credible alternatives, but rather the growing disaffection on multiple fronts,” Ofwono argued.
In Kampala and Wakiso alone; the two largest voting blocs, the opposition has gained and outstripped NRM massively, and it will almost be miraculous for the NRM to recover anytime soon, he added.
Namayanja told the media in August 2021 that NRM’s poor performance in Buganda was attributed to frustrations among the youth as a result of increased unemployment.
