By KT Reporter
The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has pledged to return land that he says has been illegally grabbed from citizens if elected in the 2026 general elections.
As the country celebrated its 63rd Independence Anniversary at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Kyagulanyi continued his presidential campaign trail in Nakaseke District, where he addressed a rally at Kamuli Playground in Kikamulo Sub-county on Thursday.
During the rally, Nakaseke South MP Paul Luttamaguzi and Nakaseke Central MP Allan Mayanja briefed Kyagulanyi on the plight of residents who, they said, once supported the National Resistance Army (NRA) war that brought President Yoweri Museveni to power, but have since been rendered landless through systematic land grabbing.
Luttamaguzi noted that the residents now regret backing the NRA fighters, accusing the government of neglecting the area and failing to deliver basic services.
Esther Nakawooya, the NUP flagbearer for the Nakaseke District Woman MP seat, recounted the tragic story of Stephen Mugambwa, a resident of Kimegeredde village in Semuto Town Council, who reportedly lost his life following a violent eviction from land he had occupied for 48 years. Nakawooya said the residents have lost faith in President Museveni and now look to Kyagulanyi as their last hope.
In his address, Kyagulanyi expressed dismay that despite over 500,000 people losing their lives during the NRA liberation war, the area remains impoverished, and many of its people are victims of land grabbing by government officials.
He urged residents to keep their land documents safe, even in cases of eviction, promising that his government would ensure the land is restored to its rightful owners once he assumes power.
Kyagulanyi also criticised President Museveni for ruling Uganda for 40 of its 63 years of independence, arguing that the country is now in a worse state than it was during colonial rule. He decried the poor road network in Nakaseke, which he pledged to rehabilitate if elected president.
He called on residents to “rise for real independence” by voting out the current regime in 2026. Kyagulanyi is expected to continue his campaign on Friday in Nakasongola District.
In the 2021 general elections, President Museveni’s popularity in Nakaseke dropped to its lowest level, winning the district with 38,009 votes (53.1 per cent) against Kyagulanyi’s 32,063 votes (45.1 per cent). The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) also lost two parliamentary seats, Nakaseke South and Nakaseke Central, to the Opposition.
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