By Karim Were
For much of the 2026 political season, the spotlight stayed on national rallies and televised speeches. But away from the big stages, grassroots mobilizers say a quieter operation was reshaping support for President Yoweri Museveni — led by Hadijah Namyalo.
As head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Namyalo focused less on public spectacle and more on direct engagement with communities. Her approach centered on village meetings, boda boda stages, SACCO gatherings, and door-to-door conversations across Buganda, Busoga, and other regions.
According to youth coordinators and local leaders, the strategy emphasized follow-up rather than promises. Through ONC programs, more than 300,000 young people were reportedly connected to Emyooga funding opportunities, while 180,000 households received agricultural support ranging from seeds to farming inputs. Medical outreach camps organized under the initiative also provided treatment services to over 40,000 residents.
One of the most notable shifts came from the boda boda sector, a group that had previously shown growing frustration with government structures. Organizers say months of sustained dialogue and outreach helped rebuild trust and gradually turned many riders into active mobilizers for the ruling NRM party.
Political observers and local coordinators credit this grassroots-centered strategy with boosting voter participation in several key constituencies in central Uganda, where turnout reportedly rose by nearly 20 percent compared to previous cycles.
At a recent ONC thanksgiving event, youth leaders described Namyalo as a key link between ordinary citizens and government structures, praising what they called a “people-first” style of mobilization.
For Namyalo, however, the next challenge goes beyond elections.
“Winning votes is easy if you listen,” she said. “Keeping that trust after the election
is the real work.”
