The People’s Revolutionary Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Mr Frank Bulira Kabinga, has accused the government of hindering his campaign efforts.
Mr Bulira told NTV-U on Tuesday that his campaign funds have been frozen, party supporters intimidated, and his campaign materials confiscated.
The presidential candidate, who previously served as a personal assistant to the late Dr Aggrey Kiyingi, is set to unveil his manifesto next week as he prepares to traverse the country.
The country is preparing to go to polls on January 15 to elect the President and the people’s representatives in the 12th Parliament.
The Electoral Commission (EC) launched presidential campaigns on September 29, after nominating eight candidates. Since then, campaigns have been largely peaceful, with the exception of the violence in some parts of central Uganda.
During an interview with NTVU at his party’s office in Kampala, Mr Bulira said: ‘We got financial issues after my accounts were frozen, many presidents who are friendly to Dr Kiyingi and to our party were intimidated. Can you imagine even reaching an extent of blocking World Remit, a money transfer company, blocking it in Uganda, not to bring in money in Uganda, because World Remit used to transact money sent by Dr Kiyingi.’
‘My t-shirts, a container of t-shirts from China, were confiscated. Presidents were intimidated. I was called three times and we were told that if we dare to see any money coming from Zambia to support this campaign, it will be like opening up war with Uganda. But we are not rebels. We are peacefully contesting with Mr Museveni,’ he added.
Despite the alleged obstructions, Mr Bulira said he has a clear strategy focused on door-to-door mobilisation, town hall meetings, and selective rallies aimed at direct voter engagement.
‘Secondly, because we have been on the ground for the past three years. Besides the 15 years since Dr Kiyingi initiated the Uganda Federal Democratic Organisation, I was his personal assistant. I know all our contacts district to district. I know all our network. And that is why it was so easy for us to collect the required signatures, and we made up to more than the required number of signatures. So that very system is the one we are using to canvass our votes and support. What Ugandans are missing is my physical appearance,’ he said.
Despite some voters questioning his ability to lead the country if given the chance, Mr Bulira said he is a seasoned politician who began his leadership journey in the Democratic Party where he was a member of the Uganda Young Democrats. He said he was once a spokesperson of the Uganda Young Democrats, and mentioned the late Dr Kiyingi, the founder of the Uganda Federal Democratic Organisation, as a mentor. The Uganda Federal Democratic Organisation has since merged with the Revolutionary People’s Party. Speaking on his presidential bid, Mr Bulira said he is driven by a desire for structural and governance reforms.
He argued that a federal system would empower regions, strengthen accountability, and decentralise decision-making.
‘Our manifesto is revolving around, first and foremost, in the first 100 days to bring on board Parliament and see that we [not only] declare Uganda as a new federal democratic republic under the Revolutionary People’s Party, but to change and become the federal democratic republic of Uganda, and we move on to the federal arrangement.
Confidence in winning
Mr Bulira added: ‘In this race, no candidate has what the Baganda call ‘ekiddako’ (next steps). Everyone is looking at, ‘let’s contest with Mr Museveni. The rest, God will decide. I believe that Mr Museveni can leave the presidency, and we have someone new in the State House.
Mr Museveni, in case he needs political continuity, can lead the Opposition. I believe that he can be the next leader of the Opposition if he still wants to be in politics, and we can take over the presidency, and we can give him his privileges as a former president, as is in other countries.’
Calls for free and fair elections
Mr Bulira called for a free and fair election. He said Uganda should perform their civic duty of electing leaders at all levels of governance. ‘I urge Ugandans to be at the polling stations. We are also working in the background to see that the rights of Ugandans to vote for their next president are not being played with.’
He also condemned high-handedness exhibited by security personnel against supporters of Opposition political parties. He cited a recent incident in Kawempe, a Kampala City suburb, where security personnel clashed with supporters of the National Unity Platform party presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine.
He referred to such incidents as a threat to democracy. Mr Bulira urged the Electoral Commission, which is chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama to ensure proper electoral processes are followed.
‘It was so unfortunate that this happened in the middle of this campaign that Mr Byabakama says that it is smooth and the election is going to be free and fair. We are going to have rallies and town hall meetings. But we, as a party, based on the previous conduct of my boss, know how to deal with the security, which is undisciplined. We deal with the individual officers, but not even the entire force. And those will be the lessons for the others. So, I don’t expect any security agents to try to play around with my rallies,’ he said.
HIS POLITICAL JOURNEY
‘My name is Frank Bulira Kabinga, son of Fred Katende Luyombya and Miriam Nakanwagi Luyombya. I was raised in Kasubi, Rubaga North. I hail from Luweero District in Kikyusa, Bamunanika, Kiwanguzi, and Kireku.”
”I’m a grandson of Milton Kabinga Balwana, a great fighter of the Uganda army of Idi Amin, and afterwards one of the leaders of the Damasco battalion, the seventh battalion of the NRA [National Resistance Army] in Damasco, Luweero. ”
”I’m a professional secondary teacher and a lecturer. I studied at Kasubi Church of Uganda Primary School, Mengo Senior Secondary School, Old Kampala Secondary School, and Kyambogo University.”
” I was a former personal assistant to Dr Aggrey Kiyingi, the late cardiologist who died in Australia two years back.”
”I was one of the founding leaders of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) in Kyambogo and Makerere University.”
“I was part of the second generation of UYD that took over from the first leadership of Dr Lulume [Bayiga], the Rose Namayanjas. So, I was in the second generation of UYD, which was headed by Susana Abbo, who crossed and is now in the NRM [National Resistance Movement].’