National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters in Kanungu District, Western Uganda have expressed disappointment after their party presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi was for the second time frustrated from campaigning in the area.
ýMr Kyagulanyi who was scheduled to campaign in Mbarara and Kanungu districts on January 8, cancelled the Kanungu rally after security in the district refused to clear the campaign venues his team had identified.
ý’The venue for our rally in Kanungu (Kihihi polytechnic) has-last minute been given out for an NRM function. In light of this, we’re covering Mbarara only. Uganda will be free,’ Mr Kyagulanyi said on Thursday in a social media post.
ýAccording to Mr Joab Muhabuzi, the Kanungu District NUP chairperson, the failure by Mr Kyagulanyi to campaign in the area was brought about by the failure to secure a venue, cleared by the security team.
ý’We first secured St Pius playground but security refused to clear it. We then secured Kihihi Community Polytechnic playground but this was also not cleared but rather given to the NRM party to hold a mobilization rally. This morning the police directed us to take the rally to Kihihi High School playground with no clearance letter issued,’Mr Muhabuzi said on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
ýAccording to him, the news about the cancelled campaign rally left supporters disappointed.
ý Mr ýDickens Mushemeza, one of the NUP supporters in the district wondered why the state agents were frustrating Mr Kyagulanyi’s campaign activities.
ý’Why do they make it impossible for our presidential candidate to campaign in Kanungu district. Isn’t the district part of Uganda?’ he wondered.
ýAnother NUP supporter Mr Rauben Tumweaigye said that although the government agents have disorganized them, NUP supporters should express their dissatisfaction by voting for Mr Kyagulanyi on the polling day.
‘They can stop Mr Kyagulanyi from campaigning in Kanungu District but they will not stop us from voting for him on the polling day,’ Mr Tumwesigye said.
Mr Kyagulanyi was expected to address his supporters in Kanungu district November last year but skipped it due to unknown reasons although some of his supporters claimed that it was due to bad roads connecting Kanungu to Rukungiri District that affected his scheduled campaign trail.