ENTEBBE – Vice President –Rtd Maj Jesca Alupo announced on Sunday that his boss Yoweri Museveni would run for 2026 General Elections – revealing that the son of Kaguta had an unfulfilled mission for the country. She therefore requested Ugandans to plan on how best to rally behind the President during the next polls.
Maj Alupo made the remarks during celebrations to mark 35 years of Entebbe Church of Uganda Archdeaconry.
Alupo said the leadership intelligence in President Museveni had enabled the country to register growth in the road, industry, power, and ICT sectors – one of the reasons Ugandans should simply support him to continue with such unmatched development if the country would be liberates the poverty monster.
“From your faces and body language I can see you are ready to give him more time in State House … Pulesident Museveni ajja kuba naffe mu 2026. Nsaba mumwagire nga bwe mubadde mukola ebbanga lyonna. …,” said Alupo in vernacular, seemingly to drive her point home.
The assurance comes at a time when the first son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba is unassailably campaigning in a way many pundits believe was ground work in preparation for a take over from the father in the near future – a situation that creates monarchism in Uganda.
Muhoozi’s supporters who the old guards have repeatedly tried to restrain to avoid ‘causing confusion’ within the ruling National Resistance Movement – NRM, assert that it was time for the veterans to give way to nee generation. Many believe that Muhoozi’s activities and those of his supporters are causing divisionism and schisms within the party support base.
Notable among Muhoozi’s critics are, Security Minister, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire and NRM national mobiliser and former Wakiso woman MP, Rosemary Ssenninde.
Museveni will be making forty years in power in 2026, having overthrown a legimate government in 1986 after a five-year gorilla war.
Alupo who urged Church leaders and Christians to support the ruling NRM party explained that Entebbe was the gateway of Uganda and it was not proper in terms of political colours for the ground not to be reflective of the same.
In his written message, Museveni commended the Church’s supportive role in helping the population emancipate themselves out of poverty. Museveni said Christians should emulate Joseph -the father of Jesus in the bible to engage in income-generating activities in addition to seeking spiritual well-being.
Museveni said Joseph made his livelihood as a carpenter and did God’s work.
The President pledged Ugx60m towards the completion of the redesign and reconstruction of the Archdeaconry Church.
Before Alupo’s speech Shyaka Steven Gashaija -the former Entebbe municipality NRM candidate enumerated the government’s achievements in the area; outlined challenges including prevalent land grabbing, poor roads in some places, and rising crime.
Alupo said she would report these to the President and they should expect feedback from her soon. She unveiled a plaque to symbolise the kick of the technical works to change the look of the archdeaconry headquarters and also planted a tree in memory of the day.
The event was attended by seven local and international bishops including retired Namirembe diocese head, Bishop Balagadde Ssekkadde who represented his successor, Bishop Kityo Luwalira to lead the service.
Others included retired bishops George Ssennabulya (Mityana), Eria Paul Luzinda (Mukono), Jackson Matovu (West Buganda), and reigning bishop Samuel Egesa (Bukedi diocese).
Foreign Bishops included Samuel Azeofa from Nigeria and Felix Odei Annancy of Ghana who preached on occasion. Bishop Odei told Christians to audit whether they had done enough in helping Jesus Christ spread the gospel.
“When you look at the population of Entebbe, can you say we have done enough in the 35 years?”
Canon John Ggita Kavuma, the Archdeacon of Entebbe explained that they needed Ugx1.1b to complete the facelift of the headquarters of the Archdeaconry to befit the status of the area. He also reminded the vice President of the President’s pledge of a vehicle, adding that he always borrowed one to do ministry work.
Entebbe Archdeaconry was curved out of Nateete Archdeaconry on January 4 1987. The Archdeaconry comprises nine parishes and about 60 churches in a territory running from Namasuba in Kampala to Kalangala Islands. The Parishes include Entebbe, Ssese, St John (near State House), Nkumba, Kitenda, Jjuungo, and Nankinga (Zana). Other archdeaconries with which Entebbe constitutes Namirembe Diocese include Luzira, Nateete, Gayaza, Mengo, Kazo, and Namirembe deanery.
Additional reporting by URN
