Mpigi, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni has called on Ugandans to reject voter bribery and corruption ahead of the 2026 general elections, urging citizens to vote based on principles and national interest rather than short-term financial temptations.
“Why should you be influenced and throw away your power to elect your desired candidate?” Museveni asked during a public rally at Kituntu Sub-county in Mpigi District on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. “When you see someone bringing money that you elect, avoid them. You have the power, don’t throw it away.”
The President made the remarks while concluding his nationwide Parish Development Model (PDM) zonal tour in Greater Mpigi, a tour aimed at assessing progress in household transformation under the government’s flagship anti-poverty strategy.
Museveni assured residents that the government has put in place electoral safeguards to prevent vote rigging, especially after what he claimed was the opposition’s rigging of 2.7 million votes in the 2021 polls.
“We have introduced biometric machines to ensure everybody votes once. We shall not allow vote rigging anymore,” he declared.
His remarks come at a politically active moment as political parties prepare for primary elections and the Electoral Commission finalizes the national roadmap for the 2026 general elections.
During the rally, President Museveni received 184 new converts from other political parties who crossed to the ruling NRM, which he said reflected growing faith in the party’s transformative agenda.
Museveni used the event to highlight the success stories of PDM beneficiaries like Ms. Rashida Namubiru (Kasaka Village, Butambala), Ms. Deborah Namutebi (Kanoni, Gomba), and Hajji Muhammad Zziwa (Selinya B Village, Mpigi), who are transforming their lives through agriculture and livestock.
“To date, we have disbursed Shs 33.429 billion to 130 SACCOs across Greater Mpigi. This includes Shs 14.4 billion to Mpigi, Shs 12.6 billion to Gomba, and Shs 6.428 billion to Butambala,” Museveni said.
He noted that each parish is expected to receive Shs 500 million over five years, with an extra Shs 300 million coming from loan repayments by earlier beneficiaries, totalling Shs 800 million per parish.
“You don’t have to borrow from moneylenders or commercial banks anymore,” he stressed.
President Museveni reiterated that job creation must be private-sector-led, pointing out that Uganda’s public service has only 480,000 jobs against a population of 46 million. He cited Hon. Fred Byamukama, Minister of State for Transport, whose farm in Kagadi employs 26 workers, as an example of productive private wealth creation.
On Health and Education
Museveni announced plans to construct a district hospital in Mpigi in line with the NRM manifesto promise of a hospital per district. He also called on parents to embrace immunization and early HPV vaccination for girls under nine.
“I’m now 80 years old, but who has heard that Museveni is sick or has been admitted to the hospital?” the President said, attributing his wellness to preventive health habits.
He urged youth to abstain from reckless sexual behaviour, warning against the dangers of HIV/AIDS and calling for fidelity among couples.
On education, Museveni highlighted progress: “In 1961, Uganda had only six A-Level schools, but now Greater Mpigi alone has 28 government A-Level schools.”
At the same event, the NRM Vice Chairperson for Buganda, Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi, appealed to residents of Greater Mpigi to rally behind President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers in the 2026 elections. “We must overturn the embarrassment of 2021, where NRM only secured 31 out of 105 parliamentary seats in Buganda,” he said.
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