Kole – In a move that has stirred the political landscape, Ms. Lilian Anyati, the Kole District NRM Chairperson, has publicly called on supporters of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) to rally behind President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the forthcoming 2026 general elections.
This appeal comes in the wake of a controversial decision by the Electoral Commission to bar UPC from fielding a presidential candidate. The Commission cited a lack of legal proof confirming the party's presidency, a ruling that has incensed many within the historic party.
The decision has left a significant bloc of UPC supporters feeling disenfranchised, with many party loyalists advocating for a wholesale boycott of the presidential election in protest.
However, stepping into this void, Ms. Anyati has positioned President Museveni as the natural alternative. She argued that since UPC cannot present its own candidate, its members should throw their weight behind the incumbent NRM flagbearer.
"Since UPC has failed to have their candidate for the position of president, they should support President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni," Anyati stated.
She lavished praise on President Museveni, describing him as "a void leader" who has historically maintained a positive working relationship with UPC. She emphasized that this existing cooperation should convince UPC supporters to transfer their allegiance.
"President Museveni is a void leader and has been working well with UPC," Anyati asserted. "UPC supporters must give him support and votes so that he can continue leading in 2026."
The appeal is seen as a strategic move by the NRM to consolidate support and absorb the votes from a key opposition group left without a standard-bearer. While it may attract some UPC members seeking political relevance, it is likely to be met with resistance from the party's base, which remains furious at the Electoral Commission's ruling and views Anyati's comments as an attempt to capitalize on their misfortune.
The UPC leadership is yet to issue an official response to Anyati's call, leaving their supporters in a state of uncertainty as the 2026 elections draw nearer.
