National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has pledged to translate Uganda’s Constitution into major local languages if elected president, saying the country’s supreme law remains inaccessible to millions of citizens who do not speak English.
Speaking on Monday, December 29, during a campaign tour of Kalungu and Bukomansimbi districts, Kyagulanyi said the Constitution—which outlines citizens’ rights, responsibilities and the limits of state power—should not be reserved for lawyers, elites or English speakers.
“The Constitution should belong to every Ugandan,” Kyagulanyi said. “They have not promoted it because they don’t want you to know your rights.”
He argued that limited access to the Constitution has disconnected ordinary citizens from key civic knowledge, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and oppression. According to Kyagulanyi, translating the document into local languages would empower communities to better understand and defend their rights.
“When a farmer, a fisherman or a market vendor understands what the Constitution says about their rights, it becomes harder for anyone to oppress them,” he said.
Kyagulanyi’s proposal echoes findings from a 2019 pilot study by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, conducted under the Uganda National Dialogue process. The study revealed strong public demand for constitutional translations into indigenous languages. Pilot dialogues were held in Buikwe, Katakwi, Luuka, Gulu and Kabarole districts, drawing more than 3,000 participants to discussions on governance, constitutionalism, the rule of law and national development.
Currently, Uganda’s Constitution is largely available only in English. While some translated versions exist, they are not widely distributed and are rarely used in public education or civic engagement programmes.
In addition to constitutional reforms, Kyagulanyi said his administration would reintroduce political education and promote the teaching of liberal arts to strengthen civic awareness and critical thinking.
“We want an education system that produces citizens, not just job seekers,” he said.
Political education was removed from the lower secondary school curriculum under recent reforms, a move the government defended as necessary to align education with national development goals and address unemployment.
Kyagulanyi also addressed controversy surrounding the widespread display of the national flag by his supporters, a hallmark of his 2026 campaign. While Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba recently suggested some uses of the flag could be illegal, Kyagulanyi said the displays should be celebrated as an expression of patriotism.
“The flag is our inheritance. Our forefathers who fought for independence left it for us,” he said while addressing supporters at Kitasa St Victor SS grounds in Bukomansimbi.
During engagements in Bukomansimbi, local leaders raised concerns about infrastructure and agriculture. Bukomansimbi South MP Geoffrey Lutaaya Kayemba cited the poor state of the Kyabakuza–Matete road, which he said has repeatedly been budgeted for but remains unrepaired.
Kyagulanyi also criticized the management of the coffee sector, questioning why processing plants are located far from major coffee-growing areas such as Bukomansimbi. He pledged to revive the national railway system and condemned corruption, which he said costs the country about Shs10 trillion annually.
Rallies in Kalungu and Bukomansimbi were largely peaceful, with minimal interference from security forces. Large crowds accompanied the NUP leader, although several boda boda accidents were reported along the campaign routes.
Kyagulanyi is scheduled to continue his campaign on Tuesday, December 30, in Rakai and Kyotera districts
