Soroti City residents turned out in large numbers on Thursday afternoon to welcome National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, as he continued his nationwide campaign ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Kyagulanyi was greeted with chants, music, and party colours as he entered the city, with supporters lining up near major points including Nakatunya Primary School.
The festive atmosphere was accompanied by a strong security presence throughout the city.
Addressing supporters at the Nakatunya rally, Kyagulanyi praised the people of Soroti for their “unwavering courage and resilience,” highlighting longstanding challenges in the Teso sub-region, including poverty, youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and limited access to quality health services.
“The people of Soroti, like many Ugandans, are tired of corruption, bad governance, and broken promises. They deserve better leadership that puts citizens first,” Kyagulanyi said.
He pledged that a NUP-led government would focus on service delivery, youth employment, and farmer empowerment.
Residents expressed excitement over the visit, saying it offered hope for political change. Sarah Apio, a Soroti City resident, said the campaign stop demonstrated that opposition leaders have not forgotten the region.
“We feel honoured that he has come to talk to us directly. We want leaders who listen to our problems, especially high taxes and lack of capital,” Apio said.
The campaign stop faced some challenges, with Kyagulanyi noting limited time to address supporters due to restrictions imposed by security.
Despite this, he urged his supporters to remain peaceful and focused on mobilizing for change through the ballot.
Kyagulanyi is expected to continue his campaign tomorrow, with NUP officials saying the warm reception in Soroti reflects growing support for the party’s message of unity, accountability, and democratic reform.