Four-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, together with his FDC-Katonga faction leaders, are confident that in 2026 there will be no NRM in Rukungiri District.

Dr Besigye made the remarks in his home district while on his countrywide consultative meeting last Friday.

The retired colonel and former personal doctor of President Museveni leading his Katonga faction were on consultative tour in western region rallying in Mbarara, Kabale, Rukungiri and Kasese districts.

Rukungiri is Dr Besigye's home district but also that of Security minister Jim Muhwezi. It was a stronghold for FDC party in the past elections.

However, in the 2021 elections, NRM took a big share of the district.

Dr Besigye told FDC supporters in Rukungiri that as FDC-Katonga faction, they will make sure that in the coming election FDC gains back its stronghold of Rukungiri.

He said ever since NRM took over Rukungiri, nothing much has been done.

"I will not allow my home district to be ruled by the NRM party any more. Since am back now, I will make sure that we FDC takes back our leadership in Rukungiri," said Besigye.

Roland Kaginda, one of the former MPs on FDC ticket, said since Dr Besigye is leading them again, as local leader from Rukungiri, they will not disappoint him.

But Geofrey Kyomukamac the district chairman who is also NRM leaning, said the ruling party has already established strong roots in Rukungiri.

He claimed it is impossible for FDC to uproot those strong roots of NRM, adding that the people of Rukungiri got tired of the lies by FDC party.

Kyomukama noted that NRM in Rukungiri has also started to fish support from FDC.

"NRM has already established firm roots ,it can not be up rooted like the way FDC thinks," he said.

"NRM as a strong party has got its structures which we follow as a party, we are even fishing supporters from FDC."