Kira MP Ssemujju Nganda Says Ugandans Wear NRM T-Shirts Because They Lack Clothes, Not Because They Support the Party

Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Member of Parliament for Kira Municipality, has accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of taking advantage of Uganda’s poverty during political campaigns. He says many people wear yellow NRM T-shirts not because they support the party, but because they don’t have enough clothes.

Ssemujju was speaking after a report from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) showed that more than 14 million Ugandans do not own even two sets of clothing. He said this shows how serious poverty is in the country.

“When the NRM gives out yellow T-shirts during campaigns, it doesn’t mean they are popular,” Ssemujju said. “People are wearing them simply because they have nothing else to wear.”

He said that this shows how poverty is making Ugandans easy to manipulate. The ruling party, he claimed, uses free handouts like clothes to make it look like they are supported by the public.

“It’s painful to watch,” Ssemujju added. “The people wearing these shirts are not NRM supporters. They are just poor. That’s not political support – that’s poverty dressed in yellow.”

His comments have added fuel to an ongoing conversation about economic inequality in Uganda. Many people are now questioning how well the government is dealing with poverty, and whether their programs to help the poor are really working.

Critics argue that giving away T-shirts and other items during election campaigns is not helping the people. Instead, it’s using their desperate situations to gain political power. They believe political parties should focus on real solutions like jobs, education, and healthcare.

The NRM has not yet responded to Ssemujju’s accusations. But with the 2026 general elections coming closer, his words are likely to spark more debate about how elections are conducted in Uganda especially in rural areas, where poverty is still very common.