By: Hannington G. Mbabazi
MUBENDE: I recently traveled through parts of Greater Mubende sub-region, and to be honest, you can feel something shifting on the ground. President Museveni was touring the area, and whether one supports him or not, it’s hard to deny the connection he still has with ordinary people.
There’s something about the way he speaks to folks—especially when he’s not behind a podium but just walking through a dusty road, talking with women at a market stall or laughing with an old man on a bench.
I was there when the President officially opened the new Mubende Central Market. It’s not just a shiny new structure—it’s functional. The people I spoke to, like Mama Nansubuga who sells vegetables, said she now has a proper stall and doesn’t have to worry about rain spoiling her produce. That’s big. And that road under the USMID project? You can now move from Kasambya to Myanzi without praying your bodaboda doesn’t break in half.
But it wasn’t just the infrastructure that stood out. What caught my attention most was how he talked about the Parish Development Model. Now, I used to think these government programs are mostly for show, but then I met a young man in Kyankwanzi, Patrick Matovu who told me he used the PDM money to start a small piggery.
He was proud. And honestly, that surprised me. Sometimes, these things don’t reach people. But it seems like, in some areas, they actually are.
The President visited him. Actually stood there, asked questions, nodded. That’s not something you fake. Even if it’s politics, there’s a level of attention he gives to the grassroots that some leaders frankly don’t. That human face makes a difference, especially in rural Uganda where most people don’t see leaders unless there’s an election looming.
Now, in Kiboga, he said something that I can’t forget—he told people to stop expecting miracles. That if you’re waiting for someone to drop money into your hands, you’ll wait forever. It was blunt. Some found it harsh. But you know what? He wasn’t wrong. We need to teach our young people trades. I remember a boy in our village who dropped out of school and now repairs motorcycles. He earns more than some teachers, honestly. So when Museveni spoke about supporting technical skills—tailoring, mechanics, carpentry—it felt like he was talking about my neighbors.
The way he speaks about religion also stood out. He mentioned leaving Scripture Union, not because he stopped believing in God, but because he felt that faith should walk hand in hand with action—especially in helping the poor. That line, “You cannot claim to love God while ignoring the suffering of His people,” really struck a chord. That message resonates, especially with older people in the village who are deeply religious but also struggling.
I’m not saying everything is perfect. No, not at all. Corruption is still there. Even Museveni admitted it—he asked people to report corrupt officials, even promised to deal with them. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but the fact that he keeps saying it shows the issue is on his mind, or at least on his political radar.
And the part with journalists? He encouraged them to promote Pan-Africanism and integration, and yes, it sounds a bit abstract, maybe even too ideological for some. But I’ve always believed that media shapes how we see ourselves. If journalists take up that challenge seriously, who knows?
Anyway, this whole tour felt more like a campaign before the campaign. And the thing is—it’s working. I’m not a political analyst or anything, but from what I saw and heard, people in Greater Mubende are more drawn to him now than in previous years. Maybe it’s the new roads. Maybe it’s because they’ve seen real benefits. Or maybe it’s just because he still shows up.
Come 2026, I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls an even bigger win, especially in this region. People have seen the results, heard the promises, and—most importantly—they feel seen. That matters.
