National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has promised an end to police brutality, politically-motivated arrests, and torture of citizens, assuring supporters in Jinja and Iganga that such abuses would not exist in what he called a “new Uganda.”
Although security forces blocked him from holding a rally or formally addressing crowds in Jinja City, Kyagulanyi managed to speak briefly to residents who gathered along the roadside and others at Masese landing site.
Supporters defied heavy police deployment to hear from the opposition leader as he passed through the district.
He told them that under a future NUP government, state violence and unlawful detentions would be “a thing of the past,” drawing loud cheers from crowds lining the streets.
Kyagulanyi also turned his focus to the severe poverty affecting Busoga sub-region, saying the area—once one of Uganda’s most vibrant industrial centres—had suffered economic decline under current leadership.
He described the hardship facing residents as “unjustifiable,” noting Busoga’s historic contribution to the country’s industrial growth.
He urged residents to remain steadfast ahead of the 2026 elections, saying meaningful development required political change.
He pledged to prioritize job creation, revival of local industries, support for farmers, and youth empowerment if elected president.
“If you remain committed and vote for us in 2026, we shall lift Busoga out of poverty,” Kyagulanyi told supporters, adding that his administration would invest in restoring factories and stimulating regional economic activity.
Despite restrictions on his movements, many residents said they were encouraged by Kyagulanyi’s message, arguing that his words spoke directly to the challenges they face daily.