President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) faced an embarrassing political setback after a group of youths admitted they had deceived the party into believing they had abandoned Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP).
The incident unfolded at a Kololo gathering, where NRM mobilisers showcased youths claiming to have defected from NUP to join the ruling party. However, the same youths later confessed that their allegiance remained with NUP, revealing they had only pretended to switch sides to benefit financially.
According to the youths, Bobi Wine allegedly instructed them to “eat Museveni’s money” but stay loyal to NUP’s cause. “We are for National Unity Platform, not NRM. Bobi Wine told us to eat Museveni’s money but we know the truth,” they said, sparking widespread discussion on social media.
Reports indicate that over Shs500 million was spent on feeding and transporting the youths to the Kololo grounds, funds critics now say were wasted, as the intended political gain backfired.
The confession is a significant blow to NRM, which has been trying to project strength and unity ahead of the 2026 elections. Rather than weakening NUP, the episode has emboldened its supporters and highlighted the limitations of money-driven mobilisations.
Political analysts note that the incident exposes the challenges NRM faces in securing genuine youth support and raises questions about the effectiveness of their grassroots strategies. Meanwhile, NUP supporters celebrated the revelation, portraying it as evidence of their loyalty and resistance to being swayed by state resources.
As Uganda moves toward the 2026 elections, the Kololo episode serves as a stark reminder that the battle for the youth vote is far from over—and for now, Bobi Wine and NUP appear to have outsmarted the ruling party.
