Silenced Posters, Amplified Voices: Museveni’s Wakiso PDM Tour Sparks Political Vandalism and Artistic Outcry

Wakiso, Uganda – As President Museveni’s high-profile tour showcasing the Parish Development Model (PDM) swept through Wakiso District this week, a different scene unfolded under cover of darkness: organized gangs systematically defacing Wakiso, Uganda – While President Museveni’s high-profile tour promoting the Parish Development Model (PDM) was in Wakiso District this week, a different scene took place quietly at night: organized gangs systematically vandalized opposition campaign posters, especially those of the National Unity Platform (NUP). This clash between development efforts and political suppression has sparked tensions in Uganda’s most densely populated district, raising urgent questions about democracy’s progress in the country’s cultural center.

This clash of development spectacle and political suppression has ignited tensions in Uganda’s most densely populated district, raising urgent questions about democracy’s rhythm in the nation’s cultural heartbeat.

The Midnight Vandalism

Residents in Nansana Municipality woke up to find once-vibrant campaign materials shredded, burned, or punctured beyond recognition. Latif Ssengooba of Nabweru described coordinated squads: "These were organized gangs of youths. Some wore yellow T-shirts emblazoned with President Museveni’s face. Others carried posters of Muhoozi." The aftermath showed a stark visual change – where colorful political mosaics once lined roads, now only NRM insignia and portraits of Museveni and his son remained.= 

Table: Impact of Poster Vandalism in Wakiso

For aspirants like Zambali Bulasio Mukasa, the damage affected both morale and finances. "Every 100 posters cost us at least 1.5 million shillings... Defacing them is another way of financially crippling us," he lamented. With candidates now consulting lawyers, the incident reveals the fragile state of Uganda’s multi-party democracy ahead of elections.

The PDM Tour: Development Amidst Disruption

Against this backdrop, Museveni’s tour projected a narrative of grassroots empowerment. His itinerary included:

• Skills Hub Inspections: Visiting the Kagoma United Fabricators SACCO, a presidential initiative training youth in metalwork and construction since 2018 .
• Beneficiary Spotlights: Meeting entrepreneurs like Lillian Nagawa, who transformed 1M UGX PDM funds into a thriving poultry farm earning 1.6M UGX on Eid alone .
• Funding Pledges: Announcing increased PDM allocations for urban parishes, acknowledging that "UGX 100 million is just the beginning" for high-density areas .

Yet, the juxtaposition was stark. As the president championed financial inclusion, opposition voices found themselves literally erased from public view – a contradiction not lost on observers.

Music’s Role: Amplifying the Unheard

For Uganda’s musicians, this incident resonates beyond politics. Wakiso District, home to genres from Kidandali to Afrobeat, has long used art to challenge power. Artists like Nubian Li and Bobi Wine emerged from these very neighborhoods where posters were torn. The vandalism mirrors attempts to mute dissent that musicians routinely confront – from canceled shows to radio bans.

As MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda declared, "Uganda is officially a multi-party system... What message does it send when the party in power is afraid of merely coexisting with its rivals’ posters?", he echoed a sentiment familiar to lyricists: visibility is resistance.

The Cultural Counterattack

History shows Uganda’s artists transform suppression into creative artillery. Consider:

• Protest Music: Songs like Bobi Wine’s "Tuliyambala Engule" turned political marginalization into anthem.
• Street Art: Murals in Kampala’s ghettos often reclaim public spaces faster than posters can be replaced.
• Social Media Rap Battles: Young artists like Fik Fameica now weaponize viral platforms when physical spaces are policed.

As affected candidates weigh legal action under the Parliamentary Elections Act (which criminalizes poster destruction) , musicians offer a parallel form of accountability – turning silenced campaigns into nationwide choruses.

Encore: Art in the Age of Intimidation

The Wakiso incident transcends partisan politics. It reveals a battle over who controls Uganda’s visual and auditory landscape. Will development tours showcasing government generosity dominate unchallenged? Or will artists and citizens amplify the cracks in the narrative?

As Museveni concludes his tour with a rally at Namboole Stadium’s Western Parking Area , Uganda’s cultural warriors watch closely. The defaced posters are more than paper – they’re sheet music for a protest song waiting to be composed. For musicians reading this: the mic is still live. How will you respond?

Cover image concept: Torn NUP poster fragments overlaid on a PDM beneficiary holding poultry, with Wakiso’s urban sprawl in the background.