In a significant development within Uganda’s political landscape, over 10 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Unity Platform (NUP) party who are not aligned to the Mathias Mpuuga and Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine factions, are set to leave Uganda’s leading opposition party and join Dr. Kizza Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
The Makindye West MP, Allan Ssewanyana, who is also the leader of the neutral sect in NUP, has exclusively revealed to this website that, together with his colleagues, they have resolved to quit NUP, citing continued infights in the party that have damaged their reputation and political careers.
“For a long period of time, we have been caught in crossfire from Hon. Mpuuga’s and President Kyagulanyi’s sides, which has derailed us from enhancing the struggle to liberate our people,” Ssewanyana said.
He added that the situation in NUP has resulted in a toxic environment that is not in any way conducive to causing regime change.
Ssewanyana revealed that the other dissenting MPs set to leave over the party’s internal divisions, which they believe have hindered their ability to engage in meaningful political activity and address the pressing issues facing Uganda, include Hellen Nakimuli (Kalungu Woman MP), Joseph Ssewungu Gonzaga (Kalungu West), Flavia Kalule Nabagabe (Kassanda Woman MP), Frank Kabuye (Kassanda South), Hassan Kirumira (Katikamu South), Denis Sekabira (Katikamu North), Robert Ssekitoleko (Bamunanika County), and Allan Mayanja (Nakaseke Central), among others.
He disclosed that they are only waiting for the pronouncement of PFF as a fully registered party and also a time frame of one year to the next elections that legally allows Members of Parliament to switch to another political party to make the move.
Ssewanyana and colleagues’ departure underscores a broader trend of fragmentation within Uganda’s opposition parties, reflecting the challenges of maintaining unity in a highly polarized political environment. As the situation continues to evolve, observers will be closely watching how these changes impact the fight for democratic reforms in Uganda.
