Big Blow! Besigye’s Name Rocks Rukungiri As Balaam’s Muhoozi Campaign Is Interrupted By Protesters

Minister of State for Local Government Balaam Barugahara faced interruptions from supporters of jailed opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye while addressing residents in Rukungiri District on October 28, 2026. The minister, who was conducting an anti-corruption campaign, found himself confronted with repeated demands for the release of the veteran opposition figure as he promoted General Muhoozi Kainerugaba's presidential ambitions.

The incident happened at Rukungiri Main Stadium during Barugahara's "Expose the Corrupt" campaign tour in the Kigezi sub-region. The gathering, which was intended to focus on local government performance and accountability, took a political turn when sections of the crowd began chanting Besigye's name, interrupting the minister's address.

Barugahara had been urging residents to support Muhoozi, the Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, in his presidential ambitions. However, his message faced interruptions as demonstrators used the opportunity to demand that Besigye be released from detention, turning the rally into a platform for expressing their concerns about his continued incarceration.

The choice of Rukungiri as the venue made the confrontation particularly significant because Besigye comes from Rwakabengo in Rukungiri Municipality. The opposition politician has maintained a strong political connection with the area, and his supporters used the gathering to remind the minister that his detention remains a major concern among some residents.

As the chants continued, Barugahara was compelled to address the matter directly. In an attempt to calm the gathering, he told residents that General Salim Saleh was leading high-level political discussions aimed at securing Besigye's release. However, the minister did not provide further details about the discussions or when the opposition leader could be freed.

Besigye has remained in detention since November 2024, following his abduction from Nairobi, Kenya, and subsequent return to Uganda by security operatives. He is facing treason charges, while his supporters and opposition allies have continued demanding his release. The issue has remained contentious, attracting attention from political figures and human rights advocates.

Despite the interruptions, Barugahara continued using the gathering to promote Muhoozi's presidential ambitions, encouraging residents to write their names and append signatures on a list endorsing the General. Posters bearing Muhoozi's image were also displayed behind the minister as the competing political messages played out at the stadium.

The incident attracted reactions from opposition figures, including former Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary contestant Ingrid Turinawe and People's Front for Freedom (PFF) leader Doreen Nyanjura, who praised residents for raising Besigye's detention. Nyanjura said Rukungiri had demonstrated that it had not abandoned its son, while Turinawe thanked the councillor who raised the matter and called for Besigye's unconditional release. The rally, which was organised around an anti-corruption campaign, ultimately became another public platform for debate over Besigye's detention and Muhoozi's political ambitions.