President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters to turn up in large numbers and vigilantly protect their votes in the upcoming elections, saying past losses in Buganda were partly due to failure to safeguard the party’s vote.
Speaking at Kasambya Town Council in Mubende District, despite heavy rain, Museveni officially launched the NRM campaign in the Buganda sub-region. He used the occasion to reflect on recent electoral history, noting that the ruling party suffered significant losses in Buganda during the last election.
“In the last election, the NRM lost about 2.7 million votes in Buganda. That loss came from failure to adequately protect our votes,” Museveni said. 
The President reminded Ugandans that electoral malpractice has been a long-standing challenge in the country’s politics, dating back to independence.
“Since 1962, vote theft has been a problem in our politics,” Museveni noted.
He, however, expressed confidence that improvements in the electoral process would help curb manipulation, citing the introduction of biometric systems.
“This time, the process has been strengthened through biometric systems to prevent manipulation. The lesson is vigilance,” Museveni said.
Museveni urged every NRM supporter to actively participate in the electoral process by turning up to vote and ensuring the integrity of the vote.
“Every supporter must turn up, vote, and protect the vote so that no one interferes with the people’s decision,” he said.
The President’s remarks set the tone for the NRM’s Buganda campaign, with a strong emphasis on voter mobilisation and safeguarding the ballot as the party seeks to reclaim lost ground in the sub-region.