Lira City, Uganda — Tension is rising among National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters in Lira City, as cadres and boda boda riders have expressed dissatisfaction over their alleged exclusion from the organising committee for President Yoweri Museveni’s upcoming victory celebration in Lango sub-region.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday at Lira Valley Resort Hotel, the NRM Publicity Secretary for Lira City, Mr. Jacob Ocen, said key party stakeholders who played a significant role in mobilising support for the President during the 2026 general elections were left out of the planning process.
Ocen questioned the legitimacy of the event, noting that neither he nor the NRM City Chairperson had been informed or included in the organising committee.
“As the NRM Publicity Secretary for Lira City, I am not aware of this event. Even the NRM Chairperson is not part of the organising team. This raises serious concerns about the legality of the preparations,” he said.
He added that several groups instrumental in securing votes for President Museveni — including boda boda riders, NRM chairpersons, Local Council leaders, Lango musicians, party flag bearers, and business leaders — had been sidelined.
“It is surprising that those who worked tirelessly to deliver victory are now being ignored. This event appears to have been organised by individuals who did not contribute to the campaign,” Ocen said.
The aggrieved members have warned that they may block the event if their concerns are not addressed.
Mr. Daniel Ogwang, Vice Chairperson of the Note en Teko Boda Boda Group, echoed similar sentiments, stating that boda boda riders were heavily involved in grassroots mobilisation during the campaigns.
“We played a big role in ensuring President Museveni’s victory, yet we are now being overlooked. We will not allow the event to proceed unless all key stakeholders are included,” Ogwang said.
Another NRM cadre, Mr. Kamara Denis, also criticised the composition of the organising committee, describing it as unrepresentative of those who contributed to the party’s success in the region.
Kamara noted that Lira City has traditionally been a stronghold of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), and it took considerable effort from NRM supporters to secure significant votes for President Museveni.
“We worked very hard to deliver these votes despite the political landscape. It is unfair to exclude us from such an important celebration,” he said.
President Museveni is expected to visit Lango sub-region on April 18, 2026, for a victory celebration scheduled to take place at Lango College.
However, with growing discontent among local party structures, the planned event now faces uncertainty unless organisers address the concerns raised by the aggrieved supporters.
