The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has rallied the Busoga electorate to renew their traditional support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government and turn out in large numbers to safeguard the party’s gains in the January 15, 2026, elections.
While holding mobilisation rallies across Budiope West for the NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni and party flag bearers, Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda (Budiope West), Sarah Namulondo (Woman MP), and Sharif Mangaraine (LCV), Ms Among urged Busoga voters to embrace ideology-based politics rather than identity.
She warned against divisive politics and instead called for leadership focused on service delivery to promote harmony, improve livelihoods, and enhance the socio-economic well-being of the people.
‘We should focus on ideology and service delivery, not identity, personal issues or hate speech. Let us stop living in the past, grow out of outdated thinking, and embrace new leadership trends for the sake of development,’ the Bukedea Woman MP said.
Ms Among said that while President Museveni and the party’s candidates are poised for victory, Budiope has set its sights on achieving an ‘excellence’ result by emerging as the leading district in the region in terms of Museveni’s vote share.
‘We are here not just to mobilise a party victory, but to push it to an excellence level so that we have a strong basis to bargain for the best for Budiope. The NRM is winning, but here we want to win with distinction and lead the way,’ she said.
She dismissed the opposition’s promises as empty and anti-development propaganda, arguing that voters should look forward and rely on the improvements already delivered.
‘The Umbrella people claim that in their first 100 days, they will remove PDM. But is that really necessary? We plan to increase it and even establish a wealth fund for those who do not qualify for PDM. Ignore them and stick with Mzee and his team,’ Ms Among said.
She pledged to maintain strong ties with Budiope as a daughter-in-law committed to protecting the district’s gains.
Ms Among assured residents that this election term would focus on collective service delivery, including a district hospital, piped water, the operationalisation of the Bukungu ferry, expanded electricity coverage, and improved road networks.
She urged voters to support a winning team that would work together to deliver these services.
‘Vote for leaders who understand your needs and will deliver projects like tractors for Sub-counties and the Shs1 billion fishing fund to the right people,’ she urged.
Former Vice President Specioza Wandira Kazibwe said Busoga should unite, rally behind one another, and return to its traditional NRM support base, shunning divisions and internal conflicts to harness resources for regional development.
‘Mzee (Museveni) recently noted that internal conflicts keep Busoga lagging behind and leave its people in poverty. I will personally work with my sisters to harmonise and focus on service delivery,’ Ms Kazibwe said, offering to reconcile Busoga leaders.
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP and former Woman MP for Buyende, Ms Veronica Babirye Kadogo, emphasised the need for a united front, urging leaders to support one another rather than fight, so they can leverage their collective strengths and serve the people in different capacities for the common good of Budiope.