The Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, has revealed that he was the first person to advise President Yoweri Museveni to seek another term, telling supporters in Mitooma District that Uganda still needs the NRM’s steady leadership.
Addressing a campaign rally at Ryakitanda playgrounds on Wednesday, Otafiire reminded residents of Ruhinda that he publicly encouraged the President to return to the ballot years ago.
“The people of Ruhinda, remember three years ago, I went to the playground in Kashenshero and said Gen Yoweri Museveni should get back on the main,” he said.
He revealed that it is him who started it, and applauded all Ugandans for responding to that call that Gen Museveni should be on the ballot this year.
The Internal Affairs Minister told supporters that the NRM’s 40 years in power, set to be marked in January next year, have been defined by two distinct eras. The first twenty, he said, were spent restoring peace after years of conflict, while the last two decades have seen the country benefit from focused development.
“Remember, for the first twenty years, we were leading Uganda but they were wasted because of fighting to restore peace and development. The true years we have diligently served Uganda are these last twenty years, after fighting all the wars, although we still have external threats,” Otafiire said.
Using imagery to caution against instability, he reminded the crowd of the fragility of peace.
“Peace is like a glass. It is good when you have it in your hands, but when it falls on the ground it turns into pieces, and when you touch them, they cut your hands,” he warned.
Otafiire urged voters not to undermine the progress made under the NRM and dismissed critics pushing for the President’s exit, saying leadership requires experience.
“Those who were saying Museveni should go, you don’t know how to hunt a leopard,” he said.
He further noted,“Get to our backs and we teach you how to hunt a leopard. A leopard is hunted by a tribe. If you learn how to gather a tribe, all will be well.”
He appealed to residents of Ruhinda and Ugandans nationwide to vote overwhelmingly for President Museveni in the 2026 general election.
“I plead to you that on January 15, 2026, don’t stay behind. Let the opponents not lie to you that it’s over; it’s not yet over. Call upon those asleep, the sick, and all others to come that day and vote,” he said.
Otafiire also assured supporters that lack of national identification cards should not discourage them, noting that he is in charge of facilitating access to IDs.
“For those without national IDs, worry less. It’s me, the owner of IDs, come and tell me to give them to you,” he said.
He added, “Don’t ask them from the President. He gave that responsibility to me.”
The minister urged Ruhinda to deliver overwhelming results for President Museveni.
