By Wabomba Ronnie
MBALE CITY
The Mbale City Resident City Commissioner (RCC), George William Wopuwa, has embarked on a series of community security and sensitization meetings across the city ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 general elections.
Speaking during one of the engagements in Bukonde on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Wopuwa stressed that the key objective of the meetings is to guarantee peace and safety for all people during the election period. He recalled how, in previous elections, many residents shied away from polling stations due to intimidation and insecurity.
“We want our people to vote in peace. We will not allow anyone to intimidate residents during this election period because last time, many people did not turn up to vote due to threats,” Wopuwa said.
The RCC explained that beyond security, the meetings are also aimed at sensitizing local leaders and communities on government programs and encouraging them to support President Yoweri Museveni’s re-election bid. He noted that the president has initiated several projects in Mbale City such as the Sino-Mbale Industrial Park, the construction of roads, and the Parish Development Model (PDM), among others. He added that Museveni continues to invest in the city’s development, which, he argued, warrants strong support from the electorate.
So far, the RCC’s meetings have been held in Nakaloke, Namanyonyi, Namabasa, Bukonde, and Lwasso. According to Wopuwa, the next stops will be Namakwekwe and Industrial Division. The meetings, he emphasized, mainly target local leaders in order to “change their mindset” and ensure they mobilize communities towards peace and development.
Wopuwa also urged striking teachers to return to classrooms and resume lessons for learners. He said teachers who remain on strike are “using a bad heart,” noting that this is the third term when pupils and students need close attention before promotion to the next classes. He encouraged teachers to “use a good heart” and prioritize the future of children by going back to class.
On the security front, Wopuwa reported that Mbale City is largely peaceful, with only a few areas identified as potential hotspots. He revealed that the city’s security committee has already mapped out these locations and is planning increased deployment ahead of the polls. He further appealed to the government to provide additional police patrol cars, motorcycles, and more manpower to strengthen surveillance and rapid response capacity as the elections draw closer.
“As we approach 2026, we must ensure no loopholes are left open. Security remains our number one priority,” Wopuwa reaffirmed.
Mafabi Mutwalibi, an NRM flag bearer in Bulweta, welcomed the initiative, saying the meetings were timely as they encouraged leaders to resolve past differences and focus on community development.
Massa Musa Malunda, the NRM chairman of Bukonde, described the meeting as very important in terms of enhancing security, promoting unity, and identifying barriers that had hindered service delivery in the area.
