National Unity Platform (NUP) president and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, held a political rally at Kongunga Primary School in Kachumbala County, Bukedea District, on Saturday December 20, 2025 amid very low attendance.
Kyagulanyi was accompanied by Mercy Marion Alupo, who had previously attempted to challenge the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, but did not proceed to nomination. According to party sources, the bid failed to materialize due to financial and logistical challenges within the party at the time.
The attendance was observed at fewer than 300 people. These included youths who are known for using drugs including Marijuana among others plus children, confirm that they had gone to see Bobi Wine, a faded musician and not the so-called Kyagulanyi, a self proclaimed politician.
Kyagulanyi and his team attributed the low turnout to what they described as interference by police and mobilizers affiliated with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). He alleged that access to parts of Bukedea County and the town center had been blocked by NRM mobilizers led by Malinga Dan, also known as Owenge.
Addressing supporters, Kyagulanyi stated that if he were to defeat President Yoweri Museveni, Bukedea District would be subjected to a parliamentary by-election, noting that Rt. Hon. Among had previously been elected unopposed. He also criticized the circumstances under which NUP replaced its earlier candidate in the district, arguing that the party had been compelled to field Asio, whom he said lacked prior political experience.
Meanwhile, Benjamen Emuk, who had been the NUP flag bearer for the Bukedea County parliamentary seat, announced that he had withdrawn from the party.
According to both former party members and local political observers, Emuk was regarded as the only NUP figure in the district capable of attracting sizeable crowds. Emuk said he decided to leave the party due to internal inconsistencies, weak mobilization structures, and what he described as the absence of a clear agenda within NUP.
Emuk has since joined the ruling NRM, where he is currently mobilizing support for President Museveni, Bukedea County MP Hon. David Beecham Okwere, Bukedea District LC5 Chairperson Ongura Simon, and other NRM flag bearers.
NRM supporters in Bukedea District interpreted both the size and composition of the crowd as further evidence of limited opposition support in the area. Some supporters claimed that a significant portion of those who attended were youths and children, along with a few elderly individuals, whom they said had come out of curiosity to see Bobi Wine as a musician rather than to listen to Kyagulanyi as a presidential candidate. A group of young people within Kachumbala said, “the music was soo loud that they couldn’t resist it.” A very clear indication that they had gone to listen to music and see the faded singer.
The numbers circulating on social media were doctored just to pretend the rally was successful and attracted huge crowds.
It was also observed that Bobi wine came with over 10 vans with each carrying passengers, full to capacity. So, the population was entirely his goons, who were reportedly stormed Kachumbala Market and terrorized the market vendors, stealing most of their products and goods.
The market vendors reported that they regret ever going to sell their products to the market because, they got robbed.
NRM leaders and supporters maintain that Bukedea District remains a stronghold of the ruling party, particularly following Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among’s appointment as NRM National Vice Chairperson (Women), a senior leadership position within the party, alongside her role as Speaker of Parliament
