By Frank Kamuntu
On Thursday, Kampala’s bustling Buganda Road transformed into an unexpected stage for political reawakening, as the Office of the National Chairman (ONC-NRM), led by Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, orchestrated the city’s first-ever Street Futari Dinner. While framed as a gesture of charity during Ramadan, the event signaled something far more calculated—NRM’s renewed push to reconnect with Kampala’s often disenchanted urban youth.
Under the banner “Abaavu Tweyambe,” the dinner attracted thousands of participants—many of them young people, some affiliated with opposition parties like Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP), the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and the newly emerging Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). The turnout was not just a show of religious unity, but a compelling display of political opportunity for the ruling party.
The stretch between the Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) and Watoto Church was closed off and turned into a sea of prayer mats, tables laden with pilau, fruits, and juice, and a gathering that exuded a spirit of generosity. But beneath the communal celebration was a deeper strategy: re-engaging Kampala’s urban youth, long considered a stronghold for opposition politics.
By 3 p.m., the Bazzukulu—as Hajjat Namyalo affectionately calls them—were already filling the street in anticipation. And when the call to break the fast came at 7 p.m., it was Namyalo herself, Museveni’s self-proclaimed “Chief Muzzukulu,” serving meals in a personal display of humility and leadership. Her message was clear: this wasn’t just about feeding the hungry; it was about fostering loyalty and reshaping political perceptions.
Addressing the crowd, Namyalo didn’t shy away from the political undertones. She thanked those who had come despite what she described as deliberate efforts by “political actors” to dissuade them. “You who came are enough to prove them wrong,” she said, framing the evening as a symbolic rejection of opposition narratives.
But beyond rhetoric, the event was a soft-sell on NRM’s socioeconomic agenda. Namyalo urged attendees to embrace the government’s wealth creation programs—Emyooga, Parish Development Model (PDM), and the newly launched Salaam Bank—as tools for transforming their lives. It was a message tailored for Kampala’s urban poor, many of whom have long accused the government of neglect.
Religious leaders also lent their voices to the evening’s significance. Sheikh Erias Kigozi, Wakiso District Kadhi, praised Museveni for supporting the Muslim community, both in symbolic gestures like the street Iftar and in tangible policy moves like protecting Muslim property rights and appointing Muslim leaders to key positions.
But perhaps the most telling moment was the spontaneous feedback from some attendees. Hassan Kirya, a self-identified opposition supporter, left the event with more than just a full stomach. “NRM is showing that it cares for us,” he said. “Maybe we need to listen more.” His sentiment echoed among others who seemed open to re-evaluating their political loyalties.
The Street Futari was more than just an Iftar; it was a public relations coup for ONC and Hajjat Namyalo, whose role as Museveni’s top mobilizer is gaining traction. In a city where the opposition has historically dominated, Thursday’s event hinted at a subtle shift. Whether this marks the beginning of a political turnaround for the ruling party in Kampala remains to be seen, but for now, Namyalo and the ONC have staked a claim on the streets—and hearts—of the capital.
What started as a spiritual gathering may well evolve into a yearly tradition, but its undercurrents point to a calculated campaign to reclaim urban political ground in the lead-up to 2026.
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