The Buganda for Museveni mobilisation campaign is set to make a grand entry into Kassanda District this Sunday, September 14, with a mega rally scheduled for Kyanamugera playground in Nalutuntu Sub County. The rallies, which are moving district by district across Buganda, are designed to highlight the successes of President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership while making the case for his anticipated 2026 presidential campaign.
The regional tours are spearheaded by prominent ruling party figures, including Minister Haruna Kasolo, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa Sentamu, among others. The group recently met President Museveni, who gave his full endorsement to the mobilisation drive.
Last Sunday, the initiative staged a highly successful rally in Kiyunga, Mukono North constituency, which drew thousands of supporters and sent a strong signal that the NRM still commands influence in Buganda. Organisers now want to replicate and surpass that success in Kassanda.
NRM’s uphill task in Kassanda
📌 Kassanda at a Glance
Parliamentary seats: 4 (NRM holds 1, Opposition holds 3)
Current NRM MP: Dr. Michael Bukenya (Bukuya County)
Youth population: Over 60%
PDM funding received: UGX 20 billion+ disbursed
Projected rally turnout: 15,000+ expected at Kyanamugera playground
Key NRM Flagbearers 2026: Isaac Kamulegeya (Kassanda North), Dr. Michael Bukenya (Bukuya), Hajj Abdul Bisaso (Kassanda South), Rebecca Atukunda (Woman MP), Drake Sembusi (LC5 Chairman)
Kassanda remains a politically challenging district for the NRM. In the 2021 general elections, the ruling party managed to secure only one parliamentary seat out of four — Bukuya County under Dr. Michael Bukenya Kyabikola, who also serves as the current NRM District Chairman. The other three seats, including Kassanda South, fell to opposition candidates, with the youthful Frank Kabuye defeating NRM flagbearer Michael Muhumuza.
This political background explains why Sunday’s rally carries heavy symbolic and strategic weight. It is being billed as a launchpad for the district’s NRM flagbearers ahead of the 2026 elections, with particular focus on Hajj Abdul Bisaso, who recently clinched the party ticket to challenge Kabuye in Kassanda South.
Preparations in top gear
On Tuesday, the local organising committee, chaired by Dr. Bukenya, convened at the Kyanamugera playground to put final touches on preparations. The meeting brought together the district’s top NRM figures, including Deputy RDC Mike Ssegawa, parliamentary flagbearers Isaac Kamulegeya (Kassanda North), Dr. Michael Bukenya (Bukuya County), Hajj Abdul Bisaso (Kassanda South), and Rebecca Atukunda (Woman MP), alongside Drake Sembusi, the NRM flagbearer for LC5 chairman.
Security was also well represented at the meeting, with the District Internal Security Officer (DISO) and his deputy in attendance to ensure the rally proceeds smoothly and without incident.
In his remarks, Deputy RDC Mike Ssegawa underscored the significance of the rally for the district and the wider Buganda mobilisation drive. “Kassanda is ready to show its support for President Museveni. This rally is not just about politics; it is about demonstrating unity and building momentum for development programs like the Parish Development Model, which are already transforming livelihoods in our communities,” he said.
Speaking at the same meeting, Dr. Michael Bukenya, NRM District Chairman, emphasized the importance of unity ahead of 2026. “This rally is Kassanda’s opportunity to prove that NRM is still the people’s choice. We are mobilising from the grassroots, parish by parish, so that when the time comes, Kassanda will deliver overwhelming support for President Museveni and our flagbearers,” he noted.
The committee pledged to mobilise in every parish and village to ensure a massive turnout. Organisers are projecting over 40,000 people will attend Sunday’s event, a figure they say will surpass Mukono’s rally numbers and demonstrate Kassanda’s readiness to rally behind Museveni’s continued leadership.
Entertainment to draw crowds
Organisers have also lined up top musicians to spice up the event and attract crowds, especially the youth who form over 60% of Kassanda’s population. Confirmed performers include Alien Skin, whose street anthems dominate Uganda’s music charts, veteran songstress Stabua Natooro, and Princess Amira, known for her vibrant stage energy.
According to the planning committee, music will play a crucial role in pulling large numbers, particularly first-time voters and young people who form a significant bloc in Buganda’s electoral arithmetic.
Government achievements on display
Beyond the entertainment, the rally will also highlight government achievements in Kassanda. Programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga have injected billions of shillings into household income projects across the district. Kassanda alone has benefited from more than UGX 20 billion in PDM disbursements since the program’s rollout, according to district NRM leaders.
Local leaders are expected to use the platform to emphasize how these programs are reshaping livelihoods in agriculture, small-scale trade, and cooperative savings, sectors that form the backbone of Kassanda’s rural economy.
A political litmus test
As the ruling party intensifies its drive to reassert dominance in Buganda, the Nalutuntu rally will be closely watched as both a mobilisation exercise and a political litmus test. Success in Kassanda could send a powerful signal that NRM is regaining lost ground in Buganda ahead of the 2026 polls.
For the organisers and local leadership, Sunday is not just another rally — it is a defining moment in the NRM’s bid to consolidate support and secure victory in a region where opposition parties have gained traction in recent elections.
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