By Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has strongly criticized President Yoweri Museveni, accusing him of using the ongoing Parish Development Model (PDM) monitoring tours as a pretext for early political campaigning ahead of the 2026 General Election.
Latest
FDC: No Return to IPOD Summit Without Political Reforms
Gov’t Commits to End Delays For Banyarwanda Passport Applicants
Electoral Commission Under Fire as UYD Accuses It of Abetting DP Leadership Fraud
Justice Kanyeihamba, Fierce Government Critic Dies at 86
Inside Museveni’s Pledge to Resolve Kasokoso Land Dispute
Gov’t Admits Flaws In EPS Auto System, Suspension Stands
Speaking during a press briefing in Kampala on Monday, Lukwago said the president’s cross-country mobilization disguised as development oversight amounts to a premature election campaign, even though the Electoral Commission has not yet issued the official campaign roadmap.
“We take exception to this conduct. He’s crisscrossing the entire country. He is on a campaign trail,” Lukwago said. “Under the guise of monitoring the PDM, Museveni has wound up campaigning even before nominations.”
According to Lukwago, Museveni has now turned his attention to the capital, where he has reportedly scheduled multiple events in areas such as Rubaga and Kampala Central Division. The Lord Mayor lamented what he described as double standards, noting that opposition politicians are routinely denied access to public venues like Constitutional Square and Kololo Airstrip, yet the President is permitted unrestricted access.
“Kampala is out of bounds for the opposition, but Museveni is free to roam around. He’s already here making noise with processions and rallies,” Lukwago said. “Yet when we as the opposition seek to do the same, we are blocked at every turn.”
Lukwago, a key figure in Uganda’s opposition politics, warned that the opposition would not sit back while space for political engagement remains unequal.
“We are going to do our movements around Kampala, and we expect no interruptions. What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he added.
President Museveni has been conducting PDM tours across the country, a program aimed at boosting household incomes through agricultural productivity and financial inclusion. However, opposition figures have persistently accused the government of using state resources and programs for political mobilization in the lead-up to elections.
The Electoral Commission is expected to open nominations for presidential candidates in October this year. As the political temperature begins to rise, opposition parties and civil society are calling for adherence to fair electoral practices and equal access to public spaces.
