Power struggle continues in the National Unity Platform (NUP) as some women leaders have refused the proposal by party president Robert Kyagulanyi to have his wife Barbie Itungu Kyagulanyi as the next women’s league chairperson replacing Flavia Kalule Nabagabe.
According to the current women’s league chairperson Flavia Kalule while speaking to our reporter on Wednesday, December, 11, 2024 at Parliamentary Avenue, Kyagulanyi lobbied a few women leaders in the party to push for her replaced by Barbie Itungo even when her term is still ongoing.
“On Tuesday December, 10, 2024 we had a women’s league meeting in the morning before we addressed the media on the 16 days of activism against GBV and in the meeting I was shocked to learn that top women leaders were already suggesting that Barbie should be the next women’s league chairperson which is okay but at least let me first finish my term, “ Kalule said.
Kalule also accused the Vice President for the northern region, Lina Zedriga who is a good friend to Kyagulanyi for pushing the Barbie agenda and mobilizing other women leaders to push her out.
“It’s sad that all this agenda is being pushed by Lina Zedriga with direct endorsement from our party president. If we are fighting nepotism in the NRM government then what will make NUP different if we start having such agendas in the party?” Kalule added furiously.
When we contacted Lina Zedriga on phone she said that Barbie Itungu just like any other party member has the right to contest for any party position.
“My daughter Kalule shouldn’t be worried. If she has served well in the women’s league then the delegates will vote her back into office but that doesn’t stop any other person interested in the seat from offering themselves,” Zedriga said.
Teddy Nambooze the woman MP for Mpigi district and a member of the NUP women’s league said that it’s unfortunate that some top party members want to be selfish and front close family members and friends to run for positions where the current position holders are serving well without any prejudice.
Kampala city council speaker Zahara Luyirika said that Kalule has been a good and committed mobiliser and so approachable that replacing her with Barbie Kyagulanyi may not favor the women since Barbie is not easy to get and many women may not run to her easily since she is the wife of the party president.
The NUP women league held a meeting at the party offices at Makerere Kavule on Tuesday December, 10,2024 as they planned to celebrate the 16 days of activism against gender based violence. After the heated closed door meeting the women leaders addressed the press and also the invited guests mainly women as they discussed how to end GBV in their communities.
