Unlike the top contenders President Museveni and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who came with several supporters, Barya was flanked by his daughters who are not even of voting age.
The former Makerere University professor who now heads his own Uganda Technology and Management University (Utamu) gave a moving speech to journalists about how his heart bleeds for Uganda.
Barya speaks to journalists after being nominated as a presidential candidate.
Barya posted how he bleeds for Uganda on his social media platforms.
Ladies and gentlemen, my heart bleeds for my country Uganda and its people.
My heart bleeds for the collapse of human rights in Uganda.
My heart bleeds for all people who have ended up in jail for expressing themselves.
My heart bleeds for students and parents who view quality education as a privilege for the rich because they cannot afford it.
My heart bleeds for families that have lost their loved ones because they cannot afford medical care.
My heart bleeds for Karamoja. Uganda is such a rich country with natural resources. We can feed the whole of Africa. How then, can our people in Karamoja die of hunger? No! Now is the time to stop this. And you the voters have the key to stop all this. You have the power to create change for the better. I call out to you today to recognise this.
My heart bleeds for our men and women in Uniform who tirelessly defend our country and yet don’t get to enjoy the benefits because they have been underpaid.
My heart bleeds for the people of Northern Uganda who even after long periods of war, never benefitted from the recovery programmes by government as the scandals in the office of the Prime Minister which was in charge, shelved all possible benefits in corruption scandals.
My heart bleeds for teachers who earn peanuts and yet continue to transform students into future leaders of this country.
My heart bleeds for our savings which have been eaten away by inflation caused by poor budget priorities.
Barya and his team in Namboole.
Fellow Ugandans, for how long shall our hearts bleed?
It is for this reason that I choose not to sit by and watch our great country get destroyed by a mediocrity leadership that drifts from one scandal to the next, eroding our values and purpose! #NowIsTheTime.I pledge to put the needs of one complete Uganda first. I pledge not to fight my predecessors but to succeed them and learn from the past to create a brighter future. I pledge to do everything possible for Ugandans to go through a smooth transition. I pledge to implement federal governance with an aim of ensuring that all regions of Uganda get a fair share of the national cake. I pledge to incorporate every Ugandan in our new government. I pledge today that I will ensure that my government, our government will work well and wisely.
I accept this nomination for the Presidency of the Republic of Uganda. I accept this nomination with deep gratitude. I am very proud of all Ugandans who willingly seconded me.
Today ladies and gentlemen, I declare that my manifesto is a sign of the social contract that I hold with you. And once you have given me my mandate, within the context of our economic conditions and appropriate budget priorities, I will strive to take Uganda ahead. My first commitment will be to set honest and realistic priorities in our policies and budget and I pledge that my administration will do that.
More than anything, I want my candidacy to unify us all. I am set to walk this journey with every Ugandan irrespective of their tribe, religion or political affiliation.