As President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni prepares to take oath for another term tomorrow at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, excitement has started building among National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters in Masaka, with many already travelling to Kampala to witness the historic event.
Museveni's swearing-in comes at a time when the ruling NRM party is steadily regaining political ground in Masaka, an area that for many years remained one of the country's strongest opposition strongholds.
By 10am this morning, groups of NRM supporters from different parts of Masaka City were seen boarding buses and taxis heading to Kampala to join thousands of party supporters expected at Kololo for the presidential inauguration ceremony.
The growing excitement follows a significant improvement in Museveni's performance in the recently concluded 2026 general elections. In the 2021 elections, Museveni secured only 21 percent of the vote in Masaka City, but in the latest elections, his support nearly doubled to 40 percent.
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NRM supporters in the area say the results reflect growing public appreciation for government efforts toward development and improved service delivery.
Some NRM leaders in Masaka say the city has registered visible progress during Museveni's previous term, especially in infrastructure and health services, which they believe has contributed to increasing public trust in the ruling party.
Aisha Matovu said residents can now see tangible government projects that were previously lacking in the area.
"We have seen major improvements in roads, health centres and government programs that are directly helping ordinary people. Many residents in Masaka are now realizing that working together with government is the only way development can reach our communities," Matovu said.
Former Masaka District LC5 Chairperson Joseph Kalungi said government deserves credit for helping rebuild Masaka after years of instability and destruction that affected the region during the 1979 war that led to the fall of former President Idi Amin.
"Masaka suffered greatly during the liberation war, but today the city has been rebuilt and transformed. Roads have improved, businesses are growing and government services are expanding. This is something many people cannot ignore anymore," Kalungi said.
Despite the growing support for the ruling party, some residents say more still needs to be done, particularly in industrialisation and value addition in agriculture.
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Vincent Birimuye said Masaka, as a major agricultural region, needs factories that can help farmers earn more from their produce, especially coffee.
"Our people depend heavily on farming, but many still sell raw products at low prices. Government should now focus on establishing coffee processing factories and other industries that can create jobs and improve household incomes," he said.
Currently, the NRM party holds the majority of councillor positions in Masaka City and also controls key political offices, including the Woman Member of Parliament seat represented by Justine Nameere and the Kimaanya-Kabonera Division chairperson seat.
For decades, Masaka was widely regarded as a centre of opposition politics and resistance against the ruling NRM government. However, the latest election results now suggest a gradual political shift that could redefine the region's political direction in the coming years.
