By Mulengera ReportersIn the heart of Kasese, surrounded by green hills and towering mountains, something powerful is happening. The people, tired of poor roads, floods, poverty, and broken promises, are rising up with new energy. And leading this wave of hope is Nandala Mafabi, a strong voice from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).When Mafabi arrived in Kasese, the mood was already tense. Soldiers and police were everywhere, watching every move. As his convoy approached the border between Bunyangabu and Kasese, security forces tried to stop him from talking to his supporters. No one explained why. People feared tear gas or even bullets.But the people refused to move. They danced in the road wearing banana leaves, clapping to the beat of Rwenzururu drums. They would not be silenced.Finally, after some tense talks, Mafabi was allowed to speak. He stood proudly at the Bunyangabu town roundabout, surrounded by crowds who had waited for hours. His voice was full of passion. He told the people that their power lies in their vote, and that on January 14, they must tick the key symbol on the ballot paper. That key, he said, would unlock a new future.As his team moved deeper into Kasese—stopping in Rugendabara, Kisinga, Kaberere, and Kinyamaseke—the excitement kept growing.At every stop, people filled the roads, cheering and singing. Some waved tree branches in the air. Others ran beside his car, shouting his name. At Kyarumba playground, it felt like the whole district had gathered. Faces young and old looked up at the stage with hope.Mafabi spoke about the pain the people of Kasese live with every day. Despite the rich soil and beautiful land, many families are still poor. He blamed the 40 years of NRM rule for this suffering.But he didn’t just talk about problems—he spoke of solutions. He promised to fix the roads, supply hospitals with medicine, lower electricity costs, and bring back the cooperatives that once supported farmers. For the hills that make transport so hard, he promised something new: cable cars to carry people and goods up and down the mountains.He spoke not just as a politician, but as one of them. He reminded the people that he too comes from a mountainous area, Mt. Elgon, and that their traditions, like circumcision rituals, are the same. “I understand your struggles,” he said. “Because I have lived them too.”By the end of the day, it was clear this was not just another campaign rally. This was something deeper. The people of Kasese were not just listening to promises—they were believing again. They saw in Mafabi a leader who speaks their language, feels their pain, and offers a real chance at change.And as the sun set behind the Rwenzori Mountains, the chants of “FDC oyee!” echoed across the hills, louder than the noise of guns, stronger than fear.Hope had returned to Kasese.