By Kato Williams
Following yesterday’s dramatic events surrounding Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s (Bobi Wine’s) campaign trail in Mbarara, a storm of propaganda has flooded social media and some media outlets, trying to twist the story in different directions. Claims, counterclaims, and emotional narratives have all been flying around, leaving the public confused about what truly transpired.
Amid the noise, verified details from Mbarara City and Bwizibwera Town Council reveal a story far different from what has been circulating a tale of poor planning and political miscalculation, heavily repackaged by NUP’s propaganda machinery.
Kyagulanyi’s first rally of the day, held at Mbarara High School grounds, was largely successful. The crowd turnout there was impressive, and spirits were high. Perhaps, buoyed by the enthusiastic reception, Kyagulanyi lost track of time.
By 5:00 p.m., the NUP leader was still in Mbarara City far behind schedule for his next rally in Bwizibwera, nearly 18 miles away. With campaign activities officially ending at 6:00 p.m., even without any police intervention, Kyagulanyi’s chances of holding a meaningful rally were already slim. According to reports, he was intercepted about 10 miles from Mbarara, still with an 8-mile journey ahead a trip that would take approximately 20 to 30 minutes given the size of his convoy and the crowds moving with him. This means that, at best, he would have reached Bwizibwera around 5:30 p.m., leaving him barely 30 minutes to campaign before the mandatory cutoff time. Clearly, the delay was not caused by police action but by Kyagulanyi’s own failure to manage time and adhere to the Electoral Commission’s campaign schedule.
While NUP has rushed to blame the police for the failed rally, findings reveal that the real problem lay elsewhere: there was no audience waiting for Kyagulanyi in Bwizibwera.
Sources reveal that the NUP team quickly realized the crowd in Mbarara City had not followed them to Bwizibwera. Panic set in. In a desperate move, Bobi Wine’s team began hiring vehicles over 200 by one account to ferry people from Mbarara City to the empty venue.
By this point, confusion had completely engulfed the NUP camp. Kyagulanyi then attempted to divert to unauthorized locations in a bid to salvage the day. Sources say the self-proclaimed “man of the people” first tried to visit a prayer house in Mbarara where he was informed there were gatherings of worshippers, but police declined the request since the site was not a gazetted campaign venue. When that plan failed, Kyagulanyi shifted focus and attempted to proceed to a busy market in Kyenshama. Again, security officials could not permit this, citing safety concerns and the need to maintain order, especially when official campaign venues had already been designated and were freely accessible to him.
When it became evident that his Bwizibwera rally had collapsed, Kyagulanyi allegedly resorted to theatrics, attempting to portray himself as a victim of state interference. But security sources and eyewitnesses on the ground confirm that the few arrests made were of NUP individuals known for violating Electoral Commission regulations, among other forms of criminality not innocent supporters.
Therefore, in all this, there was not a case of state suppression. It was a case of poor planning and political miscalculation, later disguised through propaganda.
To understand why NUP couldn’t gather numbers in Bwizibwera, one must look at the political landscape transformed under the leadership of Tycoon Tuhaise Prosper Kururagire, the dynamic NRM Chairman of Mbarara District.
Since assuming office, Prosper has redefined local politics. His charisma, resourcefulness, and hands-on leadership have united youth groups and bridged divides that once gave the opposition breathing space. Through initiatives like football tournaments, boda boda competitions, school sponsorships, and youth empowerment projects, Prosper has rebuilt trust in NRM from the grassroots up.
Yesterday, as Kyagulanyi’s convoy crawled toward Bwizibwera, Prosper’s office was buzzing with activity. Several former NUP youth supporters formally defected to NRM, handing in their red berets and T-shirts in exchange for yellow shirts — a symbolic end to NUP’s short-lived influence in the area.
All the above explained, the narrative pushed by NUP that police interference crippled their rally simply doesn’t hold water. The truth is that the Bwizibwera rally was doomed long before the police ever stepped in. Poor time management, internal disorganization, and a collapsing local support base are what truly derailed Kyagulanyi’s campaign in Mbarara.
As events in Western Uganda continue to unfold, one thing is clear: Prosper Kururagire’s leadership has reshaped the game, and the NRM wave is surging stronger than ever, no amount of NUP propaganda can change that.
