Joneni Bamwenda Rallies Busongora North For Change, Declares 2026 A Protest Vote Against Museveni Rule

By Gad Masereka

Moments after being nominated at the National Unity Platform Electoral Commission offices in Makerere Kavule, Kampala, Joneni Bamwenda delivered a fiery and emotionally charged speech that laid bare his vision for leadership and the direction he believes Uganda must take.

As the NUP flagbearer for Busongora North in Kasese District, Bamwenda wasted no time drawing a line between the status quo and what he called a new dawn for oppressed Ugandans.

He declared his candidacy not as a personal mission or for the benefit of any political group, but as a fight for ordinary citizens who have, in his words, endured decades of systemic suppression. “This is not for NUP, not for any party, and not for FDC or DP,” Bamwenda said passionately. “This is for the oppressed Ugandans. It’s time we rise up and fight for a better Uganda.”

His message quickly turned into a sharp critique of President Yoweri Museveni’s long-standing rule. “We must say no to 40 years of gun rule under Mr. Museveni,” he stated, calling on the people of Busongora North to view the 2026 general election as a protest vote—an opportunity, he said, to reclaim their voice and future from what he described as an oppressive regime. “It starts with you, the citizen. If we unite, we can bring the change we’ve waited for.”

Beyond the political rallying call, Bamwenda outlined a clear platform centered on service delivery and practical transformation of lives in Busongora North. He pledged to tackle persistent land wrangles that have long caused tension and displacement in the region, promising fair arbitration and stronger protection for residents’ rights. “Resolving land conflicts is key to restoring peace and dignity in our communities,” he noted.

Health care, road infrastructure, education, and youth empowerment also topped his agenda. He pointed to the state of medical facilities in rural Kasese, many of which lack adequate staffing and basic supplies, as evidence of a government that has lost touch with the people’s needs. “We need clinics that actually function, roads that connect our villages, schools that don’t just exist but serve our children, and opportunities that uplift our youth,” he said.

Bamwenda’s campaign, while deeply political, struck a tone of urgency grounded in the lived experiences of everyday citizens. His appeal to voters was not wrapped in party slogans, but in a call for collective responsibility. “Let us join hands,” he repeated, emphasizing unity across tribal and political lines. “This is our fight. For dignity, for fairness, and for a Uganda that works for all.”

With his nomination secured, Bamwenda now enters the next phase of the campaign season aiming to convert his impassioned message into political momentum. As the opposition continues to organize against an entrenched government apparatus, candidates like Bamwenda are positioning themselves as voices of the grassroots—hopeful, defiant, and unrelenting in their quest for change.