By Mulengera Reporters
Since the days of IPFC-sponsored PK Semogerere who pulled large crowds and went ahead to floor Gen Museveni in West Nile, Teso, Acholi and Lango sub regions, during the May 1996 elections, Kabaka’s Buganda region hadn’t managed to produce such a potent politician like Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Bobi Wine.
As used to be the case with Dr. Kizza Besigye (who reigned from 2001 to 2016), Kyagulanyi has irrefutably distinguished himself as the only other contemporary Ugandan politician who can pull spontaneously large crowds in any part of Uganda. He doesn’t require much prior mobilization in order to have large crowds go out to receive him. Word only has to go round that he will be in the next town and thousands will show up at such short notice.
The other political actor capable of large crowds is the veteran leader YK Museveni who chiefly leverages money, coercive means plus a network of Ministers, Security Chiefs, RDCs, Pilao maestros and other forms of patronage to have large crowds come out to listen to him.
But all that notwithstanding, Kyagulanyi now is in his own league when it comes to attaining countrywide legitimacy and acceptance in the political arena. This is the attribute that has clearly and consistently been exhibited in the last three weeks since the campaigning season for 2026 commenced. After Busoga, Kyagulanyi plunged into his native Buganda districts of Mityana, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Nakaseke and Nakasongola.
Then Monday this week, contemporary Uganda’s most popular politician plunged into the Bukedi sub region districts of Budaka and Butebo. These are some of Uganda’s remotest districts and not many expected Kyagulanyi, or any other opposition politician, to be accorded such very enthusiastic reception as it turned out to be the case.
As can be seen in the following pictorials, the disgruntled residents, and more so the youths, came out in large numbers to show the leading contender of the country’s most coveted political seat plenty of love.
Even the candidate himself was shocked at the outpouring of love and support the Budaka and Butebo residents demonstrated without being lured by the prospect of transport refund or being served some nice Pilao.
The political colossus from Magere was clearly enthused and told thousands of jubilant residents who came out trumpeting while listen to him that the only way he can reciprocate their support is by working even harder and going on to win and become their new President effective May 2026. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
