SPA Namyalo Warns Against Tampering With Museveni’s Votes As ONC Launches Vote Protection Drive

By Gad Masereka

In a decisive move to safeguard the integrity of Uganda’s 2026 elections, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, Senior Presidential Advisor and Head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), has sounded a stern warning to those planning to interfere with the voting process.

Namyalo, joined by NRM’s First Vice Chairman Al-Hajj Moses Kigongo, launched a nationwide vote protection exercise aimed at ensuring President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s victory is not compromised, as it allegedly was in 2021.

“Enough is enough,” Namyalo declared, referencing the reported rigging of over one million votes in the last election. “In 2021, you stole enough. Dare not tamper with Museveni’s votes in 2026!” The ONC chief warned those she described as “enemies of democracy” while calling on her coordinators to recruit trustworthy Ugandans as vote protectors across the country.

The vote protection exercise, which was unveiled at the ONC headquarters in Kyambogo, will mobilize NRM supporters at grassroots levels to monitor the election process and prevent any form of manipulation.

Kigongo, in his remarks, emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of this initiative. “Go and recruit capable Ugandans to protect our votes in the coming elections,” he told coordinators. “I will personally monitor your activities, and anyone found presenting fake people will face serious consequences. We cannot allow any more tainting of NRM’s image.”

The stakes are high as the nation prepares for the 2026 general elections, with the Electoral Commission already outlining key dates in the election roadmap.

President Museveni’s office has made it clear that this vote protection initiative is a direct response to the rigging claims from the 2021 election, which Museveni has frequently spoken about in public forums.

Namyalo also thanked the “bazzukulu” who have rallied behind her efforts to secure Museveni’s candidacy for 2026, despite facing harsh criticism. “I was attacked for launching the campaign to have Museveni back in 2026, but I stood firm because I knew the fight was for the benefit of many Ugandans,” she said.

She went on to stress that the upcoming election would be different, with tougher measures in place to prevent the opposition, particularly the National Unity Platform (NUP), from repeating any alleged electoral malpractices.

“Our coordinators are not just tasked with mobilizing support but also ensuring that every vote is protected. We won’t allow what happened in 2021 to happen again. This time, it’s going to be hotter for those who plan to rig,” she warned.

The vote protection exercise is part of a broader strategy by the NRM to secure President Museveni’s re-election and to prevent any electoral fraud that could jeopardize the party’s dominance in Uganda’s political landscape.

Al-Hajj Kigongo emphasized that this exercise is not just about protecting Museveni’s votes but also safeguarding the entire NRM vote base across all regions of Uganda.

“We must start by mobilizing support,” Kigongo told the assembled coordinators. “You cannot protect what you don’t have. Strengthen our grassroots structures and ensure that every vote is accounted for. And I will be visiting your areas to monitor progress—any irregularities will be dealt with directly.”

Namyalo urged all Ugandans to unite behind the NRM’s efforts, assuring them that the vote protection team would be vigilant in ensuring a transparent and fair election process. She also called for integrity, reminding the coordinators and party members that no amount of bribery should sway their commitment to the NRM’s goals.

“Let’s work together to ensure that Jajja w’Abazzukulu (President Museveni) secures a landslide victory in 2026. We owe it to ourselves and to the future of our country,” she said.