Prior to the 2025 General elections, Eastern Uganda witnessed mammoth crowds for National Unity Platform, (PLU) rallies cutting across Jinja, Iganga, Bugiri, Tororo, Pallisa, Kapchorwa and Bugisu districts.
Indeed, Bugisu became a rallying point for opposition parties; NUP and especially FDC, whose Presidential Flagbearer, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi is a son of the soil. This was compounded by the fact that Hon. Nambeshe John Baptist, representing Manjiya County is a leading NUP ideologue.
The situation was made worse by many NRM Primary flops opting to contest against the Party’s Flagbearers. In Sironko, the incumbent, Hon. Florence Namboozo stood against Asha Nabulo, former Minister Irene Muloni also stood against the flagbearer in Bulambuli, Hon. Connie Galiwango stood against NRM Flagbearer, Hon. Lydia Wanyoto and Independent Umar Nangoli stood against NRM’s Hudu Hussein for Mbale Northern City Division. All these factors threatened NRM’s electoral performance in the region.
Against this background, the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) national secretariat led by Hon. Michael Nuwagira Toyota Kaguta, the National Vice Chairperson initiated regional bodies to complement the NRM Secretariat efforts in the famous, “Tuko Pamoja” slogan to massively mobilise for President Museveni and NRM Flagbearers in the region.
Hon. Sanjay Tanna was appointed the Eastern region PLU coordinator and immediately hit the ground with a meeting of Bugisu PLU coordinators at Court’s View Hotel, in Mbale City on Thursday, 30th October, 2025
In that meeting, Hon. Tanna urged the coordinators to embark on a vigorous mobilization campaign for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ahead of the 2026 general elections, ensuring that the NRM secures a resounding victory across the Bugisu Sub-Region.
Present in the meeting were; Vincent Woboya, the Bugisu region sub coordinator and his deputy, Hajji Isma Welujjo, Rita Namuwenge, Mbale City coordinator, Aziz Abudallah, (Mmeber Mbale City Team), Dr. Waburoko Dominic, Bududa coordinator, and Rwakubera Hope, coordinator Mbale District.
At the time, Sanjay Tanna said he was confident of leading PLU to re-inforce the NRM efforts of securing a landslide victory for President Museveni.
The Mbale City Court View Hotel meeting ignited several of such cluster meetings that saw PLU engage slum dwellers in Namatala, Mukagga, Nakaloke and Garage; areas known for harboring strong support for opposition.
Similarly, the PLU Task Force engaged with many leading NRM Politicians in the Bugisu subregion including the now Mbale City Woman MP Elect, Hon. Lydia Wanyoto, Hon. Irene Muloni, Hon Agnes Nandutu and local Muslim leaders- an effort taken to specifically fill the gap left behind by the late Hajji Galiwango.
Despite lack of facilitation from the National PLU Secretariat, reliable sources intimated to us that Hon. Sanjay Tanna managed to mobilize funds from well-wishers, most times digging deep into his personal savings. This effectively saw the Regional team traverse the Bukedi districts of Pallisa, Kibuku, Budaka and Bunyole. The team also combed Tororo and Busia districts, Sebei sub region, Iganga and Jinja districts.
These concerted efforts spearheaded by Hon. Sanjay Tanna under the supervision of Kaguta Toyota were evident for all to see after the declaration of both Presidential and Parliamentary results.
In Tororo, where pollsters had given the opposition a good performance eventually delivered over 70% of the vote to President Museveni with 134, 757 votes against NUP’s 33, 256 votes with FDC only managing 3,776 votes. NRM flagbearers also took 6 MP positions with one going to PLU member, ideally making it 7.
In Bugisu, NRM swept 17 MP slots, with NUP managing only one MP, whereas there were 5 NRM leaning Independents, a record performance where President Museveni against scored over 70% despite the initial NUP and FDC scare.
Sanjay’s efforts were equally showcased in Kapchorwa with an overwhelming vote for President Museveni and NRM Flagbearers. Pallisa was even more dramatic with 100% vote for NRM MP Flagbearers and President Museveni scoring 86%.
In Busoga, despite being a NUP Hotspot especially after the CEC humiliation of Mama Kadaga Rebecca, NRM with concerted efforts of PLU saw President Museveni winning in all districts except Jinja City, Iganga and Mayuge. President Museveni still beat NUP garnering an average of 53.4%.
Speaking to this publication, Hon. Sanjay Tanna attributes their impact on the NRM’s performance to a solid Team, Goodwill from Hon. Kaguta Toyota, Mobilization Acumen, good working relationship between his team and Security Agencies and above all the NRM Secretariat.
Hon Sanjay Tanna attending National PLU meeting chaired by Hon. Michael Kaguta Toyota
