Africa-Press – Uganda. A total of 18 members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) are seeking the party endorsement to fill the Kayunga District chairperson seat.The position fell vacant last month following the death of Mr Muhammad Ffeffekka Sserubogo.Sserubogo, who had been in office for less than a month, died on June 16 at his home. His body was found hanging on a tree by a rope.
Those seeking NUP ticket include Mr Jamil Kamoga, the son of the deceased and his sister Ms Fatuma Nakanwagi.Others are Mr Paul Musoke, who lost the Kayunga mayoral seat, Mr Joseph Ouma, the former district NRM general secretary, Mr Dennis Katongole, a radio presenter, Mr Joel Nakibinge, Mr Rajab Ssenkubuge, Ms Maureen Nabukeera, Ms Margret Nabirye, Mr Moses Mugenyi, Mr Brian Ssebuuma, Dr Donald Obama, Mr Solomon Luwali, Mr Michael Kyakulaga, Mr Obeid Kato, Mr Patrick Sserubiri, Moses Ndugga, Ms Harriet Nakwedde, and Mr Shariff Nsubuga.The NRM’s Andrew Muwonge and Mr Boniface Bandikubi, who is contesting as an Independent, have also expressed interest for the seat.
Mr Ouma, Ms Nakwedde, Ms Nabirye, and Mr Katongole are the front runners in the race to get the NUP party flag.Mr Adam Mudduawulira, the district NUP mobiliser, said all aspirants were free to meet their supporters, and added that they would later come up with a suitable candidate to contest in the by-election.Last week, Mr Dan Mbowa, the district NUP party secretary general, convened a meeting of party leaders at Bugiri UMEA Primary School in Ntenjeru South constituency during which they expressed support for Ms Nakwedde. Ms Nakwedde was, until 2021, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) district chairperson.
Mr Yasiin Kamulegeya, the Kayunga Sub-county district councillor, who was also instrumental in choosing NUP flag bearers in the January General Election, said they want Ms Nakwedde to take the district seat for the four years as she prepares to contest for the MP seat in 2026.However, some NUP supporters have asked Ms Nakwedde to quit the race and concentrate on winning the district woman MP seat, where she challenged the victory of former State minister for ICT Ida Nantaba, who she accuses of vote-rigging and voter bribery.
“What will happen if she (Nakwedde) wins the case and at the same time she is contesting for the district seat?” Ms Irene Namyalo, an NUP supporter in Kayunga Town, asked.Ms Nakwedde has not come out openly to declare her intentions to vie for the seat, her political allies say she is interested in it.
The NUP district chairperson, Mr Ben Ojambo, said there are fears that the fight among members might tear the party apart and also lead to its loss in the by-election.Mr Ojambo expressed worry that even before the party’s Electoral Commission conducts internal elections to pick their flag bearer, some party supporters had declared themselves so.“The party process to elect the flag bearer is very clear. When time comes, we shall sit and elect the flag bearer, but I want to stress that we have not yet endorsed any one yet,” Mr Ojambo said.
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, is slated to visit the district later this month to sort out the issue of who is to be handed the party flag in the by-election.The Electoral Commission has yet to set a date for the by-election.
