Business activity along Naguru and roads leading to the headquarters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) came to a temporary standstill yesterday when close to 600 members of the informal sector marched to the PLU secretariat to endorse Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 2031 presidential bid.
Led by Ms. Suzan Kushaba, the group arrived at the PLU offices amid blaring patriotic songs, chants and dancing, attracting the attention of traders, motorists and members of the public along the route.
The colourful procession brought together representatives from different sections of the informal economy, including taxi operators, boda boda riders, abattoir workers and salon operators.
Informal Sector Turns Up
The taxi operators were led by Batte Sulayimani, while the abattoir workers were represented by Sserugo Ben. Boda boda operators were led by Seruwada, while salon operators were represented by Makindye councillor Asiimwe, popularly known as Somali.
Upon arrival at the PLU secretariat, the delegation was ushered into the organisation’s gardens, where the celebrations continued.
Members registered their support for Gen. Kainerugaba’s 2031 presidential bid through the official PLU online endorsement platform and manual registration books provided at the secretariat.
The endorsement was part of continuing efforts by supporters of Gen. Kainerugaba, commonly known as MK, to mobilise grassroots support around his reported political ambitions.
Kushaba Defends Early Supporters
Addressing the delegation in the presence of PLU Secretary General Hon. Fadili Twalla, Kushaba said the group had been promoting Gen. Kainerugaba’s political aspirations long before the current wave of interest surrounding his 2031 bid.
She particularly credited businessman Michael Nuwagira, popularly known as Toyota, with being among the early figures who promoted the idea of Gen. Kainerugaba succeeding President Yoweri Museveni.
“Under the stewardship of Mr. Michael Nuwagira, aka Toyota, he was one of the first people to sell Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Uganda’s next president after President Yoweri Museveni,” Kushaba said.
She said their mobilisation efforts included cleaning campaigns and later activities associated with Gen. Kainerugaba’s birthday celebrations.
At onetime they referred to us as ‘pilawo’ pilawo but we have proved them otherwise. The MK presidential bid has now taken formation and it will be reality added Ms.Kushaba.
‘Opportunists Cannot Sideline Us’
Kushaba also took aim at individuals who, according to her, had recently joined the movement but were attempting to marginalise people who had been involved from its early days.
“Most of the people that you see now trying to sideline us are not the ones that were there when we began the MK presidential bid a few years ago,” she said. “They are opportunists who will not deter us from our original agenda.”
She said the movement should not be judged by the positions or administrative privileges held by its members, but by their commitment to seeing their political objective achieved.
We also call upon local government minister Hon.Balaam Barugahara to bring his anti corruption drive to Kampala. What is happening in KCCA is absurd . He has to look into the markets, schools whose land has been grabbed. Hospitals among others.
“Ours is not about who has a PO number, but a zeal to realise that what we started comes to pass. I have no doubt that MK will be our next president,” Kushaba said.
Twalla ‘Taken Aback’
The size and enthusiasm of the delegation appeared to surprise PLU Secretary General Fadili Twalla, who thanked the informal-sector representatives for turning up in person to endorse Gen. Kainerugaba.
Twalla said he was impressed by the commitment demonstrated by the group and appreciated members for sparing their valuable time to travel to the secretariat.
He said their physical presence demonstrated the level of grassroots enthusiasm surrounding the MK project.
Twalla Warns Against Turkey Embassy March
Twalla, however, cautioned the group against proceeding with a separate planned march to the Turkish embassy.
He said he had received information that members of the delegation intended to proceed to the embassy after completing their activities at the PLU secretariat. Instead, he advised them to focus their energies on building a much larger support base.
Twalla challenged the group to mobilise at least 200,000 supporters who, he said, could officially participate in a planned march on September 18, 2026.
He said any changes to the arrangements would be communicated through the PLU’s formal channels.
Lira Delegation Arrives
The informal-sector delegation was not the only group visiting the PLU secretariat.
According to PLU officials, several other delegations, including groups from as far away as Lira, have travelled to the secretariat to undergo the endorsement process.
The visits are being presented by the organisation as evidence of growing grassroots mobilisation across different parts of Uganda.
Informal Sector Key To Mobilisation
The informal sector, which includes millions of Ugandans engaged in small businesses, transport, trade, salons, workshops, markets and other forms of self-employment, is considered an important constituency in grassroots political mobilisation.
The participation of taxi operators, boda boda riders, abattoir workers and salon operators therefore gives the latest endorsement a distinctly grassroots character.
For Kushaba and her supporters, however, the mobilisation is also about preserving what they regard as the original vision of the MK movement.
Her emphasis on the contribution of early supporters suggests that the question of who pioneered the campaign and who should play a role in its future organisation could become increasingly significant as mobilisation for 2031 gathers momentum.
PLU Secretariat Becomes Hub
The activities at the PLU secretariat come as Gen. Kainerugaba’s political profile continues to attract attention, with supporters organising around his possible future presidential candidature.
For the PLU leadership, the challenge will be to translate the enthusiasm displayed by groups such as the informal-sector delegation into an organised and nationwide mobilisation structure.
For supporters, the immediate objective appears to be building a broad grassroots base and demonstrating that the MK project enjoys support beyond Kampala and established political circles.
The arrival of hundreds of informal-sector workers at the PLU secretariat, complete with songs, dancing and public endorsement, provided another visible demonstration of that mobilisation effort.
With other delegations reportedly continuing to arrive from different parts of the country, the PLU secretariat is likely to remain a hub of activity for groups seeking to publicly associate themselves with the MK 2031 campaign.
Author Profile
- Mr. Jacko David Waluluka is another unique entertainment and general investigative news writer, a field he has diligently covered for over fifteen years. He’s also the Chief Administrator at The Investigator. He can easily be reached via [email protected]
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