Africa-Press – Uganda. As the National Unity Platform (NUP) enters its second day of vetting process ahead of the 2026 general elections, Kampala District Woman MP aspirant Winfred Nakandi has come out strongly in defense of the party’s internal selection mechanisms, dismissing allegations of corruption and undue influence.
Appearing on NBS Morning Breeze on Tuesday, Nakandi addressed public skepticism surrounding the credibility of the ongoing vetting exercise, which has become a hot topic among party supporters and political analysts alike.
The vetting process, currently taking place at the party’s headquarters in Makerere Kavule, is based 40% on candidates’ performance before vetting committees and 60% on grassroots consultations, according to NUP officials.
“If you are going for an exam, you cannot ask for specific questions to be asked. You can just expect certain areas to be questioned,” Nakandi explained
Nakandi firmly denied allegations that party officials are soliciting bribes in exchange for a flag bearer card.
“I have not been asked for money by anyone in NUP. I cannot therefore say that the party asks people for money in exchange for a party flag bearer card,” she stated.
Her remarks come at a time when several political actors have drawn comparisons between NUP’s process and the recently concluded NRM primaries, which, despite their procedural rigor, left many candidates dissatisfied and triggered hundreds of petitions nationwide.
Addressing the broader issue of potential favoritism or political patronage, Nakandi acknowledged that “influence peddling” can happen in any political setup.
“While it’s easy for influence peddling to happen, we expect it not to happen. The thing is that the people can also reject the party position if they don’t agree with the outcome.”
Nakandi, a rising political figure, also used the platform to highlight her political journey and grassroots credentials. She began her activism in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in 2014 and later served as Vice Guild President at Kyambogo University. She was also elected President of the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) for the 2017/18 term. It was at the end of her tenure that she joined the newly formed People Power movement, which later evolved into the NUP.
“If I didn’t have trust in the party processes, I wouldn’t have submitted my papers,” Nakandi asserted.
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