President Yoweri Museveni urged Ugandan youth to spend less time on European football and focus on productive work that supports national and regional growth. He stressed the need for East African Community integration to expand markets, citing Uganda’s annual production of 5.3 billion liters of milk against domestic consumption of 800 million liters. Museveni outlined seven NRM priorities, promoted regional political federation, and defended prioritizing infrastructure as he campaigns for the 2026 presidential election.

President Yoweri Museveni utilized campaign rallies in Namutumba and Sebei to promote the NRM agenda, pledging expanded infrastructure, social services, and household wealth initiatives. He highlighted new and ongoing road, electricity, water, education, and health projects, and urged residents to adopt commercial farming models to raise incomes. Museveni also promised a stronger disaster response in Bukwo after recent landslides and emphasized peace, environmental management, and anti-corruption oversight as core priorities for long-term development.

Kenyan activist Njagi revealed that he and fellow activist Oyoo were abducted near Kampala on October 1, 2025, and held for 38 days at Uganda’s Kasenyi Military Barracks. He claims to have been detained alongside Amos Ruongomani, the brother of Uganda’s Internal Affairs Minister, after alleged orders for their abduction from General Muhoozi. He criticized detention conditions, cited torture, and appealed for the release of political prisoners, highlighting concerns over human rights and regional cooperation in East Africa.

Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to provide Uganda access to the Indian Ocean after President Yoweri Museveni warned of possible future conflicts over sea access. Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya adheres to international conventions and benefits from facilitating transit for landlocked neighbors. Kenyan officials emphasized diplomacy and legal frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In contrast, Kenyan commentators criticized Museveni’s remarks and urged dialogue to avoid tensions.

Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) intensified his campaign in the Kigezi region by pledging to improve tourism, upgrade roads, and support manufacturing to create jobs and raise local incomes. He told supporters that poor road networks have hurt tourism and vowed to rehabilitate key routes and attract investment. Kyagulanyi also urged voters to remove the NRM from power and said that, if elected, he would work to secure the release of opposition figure Kizza Besigye.

Kenyan activists alleged that Ugandan soldiers secretly helped Kenyan police suppress the 2024 Gen Z protests, claiming some officers admitted to operating in Kenya while disguised in police uniforms. The claims surfaced as a high-level Ugandan military delegation visited Nairobi for a welfare benchmarking tour that drew public suspicion, especially after President Yoweri Museveni’s recent remarks about future conflicts tied to Uganda’s lack of access to the Indian Ocean.