The former Leader of Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, and his faction of opposition members of parliament (MPs) boycotted the event organized by Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi to present an alternative budget for the next financial year.
The event held at Parliament on April 8, 2024, which was supposed to show a united front against the ruling party’s budget proposal, instead shed light on deep divisions within the National Unity Platform (NUP) party. As attendees filled the conference room with anticipation, the absence of Mpuuga spoke volumes about the internal struggles within the party.
Renowned opposition figures such as Muwanga Kivumbi, Medard Sseggona Lubega, and Abed Bwanika were expected to stand in solidarity against the ruling party’s fiscal plans. However, Mpuuga’s absence undermined the unity of the opposition, leaving many astonished and the parliament divided.
Mpuuga’s faction, known for being vocal about the party’s internal dynamics, chose to boycott the event, voicing concerns about self-interest among both the NUP leadership and the office of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament. Speculation about internal conflicts within the NUP had been circulating for weeks, and Mpuuga’s public act of defiance brought these tensions to the forefront of national attention.
The rumors of power struggles and moral differences within the party had been growing since its inception, prompting concerns about the NUP’s ability to maintain unity. However, the hope was that the party’s strength forged during its fight against the ruling party would overshadow these issues.
With Mpuuga and his supporters standing firm in their protest, it became evident that the cracks within the opposition’s facade were widening. This disunity struck a major blow to the credibility of the opposition, allowing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to further strengthen its dominance.
The absence of Mpuuga and his faction has highlighted the internal challenges within the NUP, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the future of the party’s unity and its ability to effectively challenge the ruling party’s policies. As the investigation into the party’s leadership continues, the political landscape in Uganda stands on the verge of crucial transformations.