The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, has directed the newly elected Kawempe North MP Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola to allocate half of his parliamentary car funds to support the party’s activities.
Nalukoola, who was sworn in on March 26, 2025, is set to receive Shs 300 million from Parliament for a vehicle purchase, along with his full March salary and allowances totaling Shs 55 million—despite assuming office just days before the month’s end.
Speaker Anita Among directed the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, to ensure the new MP receives all entitlements promptly.
Kyagulanyi has specifically instructed Nalukoola to contribute Shs150 million (half of the car allowance) to facilitate party operations, which is reportedly facing financial strain.
“It is the NUP ticket that took Nalukoola to Parliament. He shouldn’t be a hypocrite; he should sacrifice some of this money to the struggle,” Bobi Wine stated.
The demand comes amid NUP’s financial difficulties following the arrest of their key donor, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who was indicted on corruption charges in 2023.
This is not the first time Bobi Wine has clashed with MPs over sharing parliamentary benefits. In 2021, several NUP legislators, including Kawempe South MP Kazibwe Mbazira, refused to remit part of their car funds, leading to tensions within the party.
Even though Nalukoola has not yet publicly responded to the request, political analysts suggest that his response to Bobi Wine’s demand could determine his standing within NUP, adding that if he refuses, he will face backlash similar to previous dissenters like Kazibwe, Dr. Twaha Kagoba, and Abed Bwanika, among others.
