Hon. Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has announced that as President Museveni visits Kawempe Division today, he will be in Bwaise 1 and Bwaise 2 to recruit youth supporters from the National Unity Platform (NUP) into the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) to support President Museveni in the coming 2026 general elections.
His message extends an open invitation to NUP youth who wish to abandon opposition politics and align with President Museveni’s camp ahead of the 2026 elections.
Balaam’s declaration has ignited intense debate among Uganda’s political circles. As a close ally of Museveni and Gen. Muhoozi, his mission appears strategic, timed and deliberately aimed at weakening the opposition’s support base in Kampala particularly in Kawempe, a known NUP stronghold.
Kawempe particularly Bwaise has historically been a hotbed of opposition activism, street protests and resistance to Museveni’s rule. By focusing recruitment efforts here, Balaam is sending a clear message the ruling party is actively working to dismantle NUP’s grassroots support.
However, the success of this recruitment drive remains uncertain. Many NUP supporters view Balaam as a regime enforcer rather than a unifying figure. The PLU’s agenda largely driven by Muhoozi’s ambitions and Museveni’s consolidation of power has yet to gain mass appeal among Uganda’s urban youth.
With Museveni set to visit Kawempe, this development sets the stage for potential political tensions, defections and outright resistance from opposition members.
However, the way NUP leadership and its youthful supporters react to Balaam’s recruitment mission will determine whether this is a turning point in Ugandan politics or just another state-sponsored attempt to weaken the opposition.
