The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the Nyendo-Mukungwe Division Member of Parliament in Masaka City, has called out the National Unity Platform-NUP party leadership to clarify the choice of their Presidential candidate for the next general elections.
Speaking at a public consultation meeting with his electorate at Mpugwe Trading Center in Masaka City, Mpuuga expressed concern about recent assertions made by NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine declaring his candidature for the upcoming presidential elections.
On Sunday, the Daily Monitor published an interview with Kyagulanyi confirming that he will stand for the presidency in 2026. But Mpuuga described the statement as a rushed self-declaration, which is a miscarriage of NUP’s internal democratic processes through which flag bearers are supposed to be selected.
According to him, it is appropriate that the party first concentrate on aligning its internal democratic processes, including putting in place a constitution, which is a principle that properly guides the leadership and their membership on every step they undertake.
Mpuuga is also concerned that the party has not committed time and energy to ensure that some of the inconsistencies that disadvantaged them in the last election cycle are addressed before the next general elections. He called on the electorate not to be swallowed by what he describes as shallow misunderstandings, but to stand and demand for significant changes in Uganda’s election.
Mpuuga is currently pushing for electoral reforms that include among others declaration of Presidential election results at district levels, voting by Ugandans in the diaspora, and those on remand. He urged the public to stand up and support the reforms to shape the country’s political future for the better.
Violet Nalinya and Bbale Huzairuh some of the residents who participated in the consultation meeting, also expressed concern about the current squabbles in the leading opposition party, arguing that they are frustrating efforts towards building a strong support base against the NRM. Nalinya observed that although they appreciate the significance of the electoral reforms, members are also yarning for a joint opposition front against NRM in the next elections.
In a rejoinder, the NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Mufumbiro Waiswa described Mpuuga’s statements as desperate rants meant to claim undue relevance from supporters, who he says are already angry over his unscrupulous maneuvers. Waiswa indicates that the party’s top leadership and broad support base endorsed Kyagulanyi as the President General and accordingly their favorite choice for the country’s top office.
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