ONC Takes Empowerment Drive to Sironko,  Opposition Bosses defect to NRM

Sironko District came alive on Saturday as thousands of residents gathered at Sironko High School Playgrounds for an empowerment outreach led by Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and Manager of the Office of the National Chairman.

The event, organized in collaboration with Hon. Asha Nabulo Mafabi, the NRM flag bearer and aspiring Woman Member of Parliament for Sironko, combined wealth creation initiatives with political mobilisation, drawing people from across the Elgon sub-region.

Residents were handed a wide range of start-up equipment at no cost, including welding and tailoring machines, hair dryers, bricklaying kits, popcorn makers, and farm inputs such as cabbages, tomatoes, onions, and spray pumps.

The initiative, part of the ONC’s grassroots empowerment campaign, sought to improve household incomes and help communities embrace self-reliance. The sight of long lines of beneficiaries receiving the tools underscored the scale of the outreach and the enthusiasm it generated among locals.

In her address, Hon. Asha Nabulo Mafabi praised Hajjat Namyalo for delivering what she called life-changing support to the people of Sironko. She also thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for keeping his pledges to the district through investments in infrastructure, women and youth programs, and community development projects.

Ms. Nabulo urged residents to rally behind the NRM and reject opposition leaders who, in her words, have failed to provide tangible services. “Our future as Sironko District lies in unity and continued trust in the NRM government. With President Museveni’s steady leadership and programs like the one we are witnessing today, Sironko is on the right path to prosperity,” she told the crowd.

Hajjat Namyalo, visibly energized by the massive turnout, reminded residents that true empowerment lies in seizing opportunities that directly transform households.

She called on the community to support President Museveni and NRM flag bearers, warning against opposition figures who, she said, mislead the population while failing to deliver real progress. “You cannot expect someone who abuses government every day to lobby for your schools, roads, or jobs. At the end of the day, he still earns a salary from the same government he insults, while you, the ordinary people, lose out,” she remarked, drawing loud cheers.

The gathering also highlighted government achievements in the district. NRM District Vice Chairperson Jane Josephine Nabukwasi pointed to ongoing projects such as the Namagumba–Nalugugu road, the establishment of the Professor Dan Nabudere Vocational Institute, and the Late Wapakhabulo Memorial Nursing and Midwifery School.

She also noted the impact of national empowerment programs including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and the Youth Livelihood Fund, which she said have injected capital into households and youth groups.

In a dramatic moment, the event saw notable defections from the opposition. Local councilors Nangweri Emma and Nyole Bright, formerly aligned with the Forum for Democratic Change and National Unity Platform, crossed over to the NRM alongside several grassroots leaders.

Their move was met with excitement from the crowd, many of whom interpreted the defections as a signal of growing trust in the ruling party’s capacity to deliver services. The defectors pledged loyalty to the NRM, crediting Hon. Nabulo for spearheading initiatives that uplift ordinary citizens.

The day’s proceedings concluded on a celebratory note with music performances from Gravity Omutujju, Lil Pazo Lunabe, San Cee, and entertainers from the Elgon region, transforming the political and empowerment rally into a festival of both culture and community spirit.

For many in Sironko, the event was more than a political gathering; it was a moment of renewed hope anchored in promises of empowerment and visible service delivery.