As the divide in the National Unity Platform (NUP) continues to escalate, efforts being taken by the party leaders have only worsened the situation in the Makerere Kavule-based political grouping, with members publically showing allegiance to the warring factions and casting doubt in their leadership’s ability to manage internal crises.
The divide has been further exhibited in the March 19, 2024, NUP parliamentary caucus that was summoned by the party president, Robert Kyagulanyi, to discuss corruption, among other issues; however, just above half of the parliamentarians managed to show up, with the other nearly-half deliberately refusing to attend.
Those who missed the caucus include Medard Ssegona, Abed Bwanika, and Joyce Bagala, among others, who have in the previous days openly criticized their party leadership, especially their president Robert Kyagulanyi, for witch-hunting his deputy for the Buganda region, Mathias Mpuuga, on allegations of corruption and abuse of office while serving as Leader of Opposition in parliament.
These, among others, are the MPs who have pledged their allegiance to Mpuuga in the battle for party supremacy as his faction goes head-on with that of Robert Kyagulanyi and his brothers, who have been accused of turning a national political party into a family venture.
One MP who attended the caucus anonymously revealed to this website that, even among those who attended, a significant number expressed dissatisfaction with how Mpuuga was being mistreated; however, their thoughts were repressed by Robert Kyagulanyi, who threatened them with dismissal from the party if they’re sympathizing with his ‘enemies’.
He further highlighted the extreme level of distrust the party leaders showed to parliamentarians who attended the caucus, whereby they went through thorough body checking; phones, watches, and other electronic gadgets, plus notebooks, were not allowed into the venue where they held a closed-door meeting.
Despite the caucus being called to find an amicable solution to the ongoing intraparty turmoil, the deliberate refusal to attend by the aggrieved faction continues to cast a dark cloud over Uganda’s leading opposition political party with no hope of settling the scores in sight.
The party Secretary General, Lewis Rubongoya, has threatened disciplinary action against the members who missed the parliamentary caucus, however, political analysts have argued that any stringent measures against members who are already feeling oppressed, could be detrimental to the party.
