MITYANA.
Tensions are mounting in Mityana District after a standoff between security officials and leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) over the venue for party presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine rally in the area .Initially ,NUP leaders had planned to have the Monday evening main rally at Mityana-Ssaza Grounds in the heart of Mityana Town ,but the district security committee advised that it is taken to Busubizi Playground ,located about 5kms outside town. NUP leaders also wanted to use the rally to launch Kyagulanyi’s campaign trail in Buganda Region –which is the party’s stronghold .
Security officials led by Deputy Resident District Commissioner Ms Prossy Mwanjuzi argue that the earlier proposed venue is located in a busy area which may pose a serious challenge on public safety and crowd management.
“We are not blocking any political activity,” said RDC Mwanjuzi. “Our responsibility is to maintain order and ensure safety for everyone. The venue change is purely a security precaution.”
The decision has sparked sharp criticism from NUP leaders, who accuse authorities of political interference and deliberate obstruction of opposition activities.
“Our president has every right to meet his supporters,” said Busujju County MP David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga. “Mityana has always been peaceful. What we are witnessing is not security management—it is political intimidation.”
A tense meeting earlier today between NUP coordinators and district security officials ended with the opposition reluctantly accepting the new venue, though party leaders expressed disappointment with security’s decision to change the venue .
“Our supporters were ready and excited. This sudden change disrupts everything and sends a chilling message about the state of political freedoms,” said Faustin Mukambwe Lukonge, a regional NUP mobilizer.
In addition to the rally, Kyagulanyi is expected to open a new regional coordination office for Buganda aimed at strengthening NUP’s presence in the region ahead of next year’s general elections.
However, RDC Mwanjuzi stated that the office opening had not been cleared, citing concerns over “unapproved mobilization activities.”
It is not clear whether Kyagulanyi will be allowed to open the NUP offices in Mityana Town .He has entered the district through Hoima Road ,addressing a mini rally in Busunju .
Mityana remains a crucial political base for the NUP. In the 2021 general elections, the party won three out of five parliamentary seats in the district, including Mityana Municipality, Mityana South, and Busujju County.
During the same election, Kyagulanyi secured 64.78 percent of the presidential vote in the district, one of his strongest showings nationwide.
Political analysts suggest that the latest developments reflect a growing battle for influence in Buganda, a region expected to play a decisive role in the 2026 elections.
Despite the rising tension, NUP officials have called on their supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding as they prepare for Kyagulanyi’s visit.
“We are ready to receive our president peacefully,” said Isaac Ssemugabi, a NUP councillor in Mityana. “No amount of intimidation will silence the people’s voice. We are simply exercising our right to assemble and show support.”
Kyagulanyi’s campaign tour—running under the theme “Building a New Uganda Together”—will see him traverse multiple districts in the Buganda region this week as part of NUP’s grassroots re-engagement efforts.