The National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, is under fire for accepting UGX 13 billion from the Presidential handshake on the party’s behalf during the 2021 campaigns. He is accused of allocating the money to NUP candidates who were struggling to put up posters and run an effective campaign in order to entice them to join the MK Movement.
According to former Rubaga South MP Candidate Samuel Walter Lubega Mukaaku, a consensus was reached during a meeting between himself, Dr. Abed Bwanika, NUP Member of Parliament representing Kimaanya Kabonera Masaka, and Mike Mabikke, party president of the Social Democratic (SD), to demand that Rubongoya come clean about the UGX 13 billion he received from the government on behalf of the NUP.
“Rubongoya received Shs13 billion from the government and claims to have returned the funds, but as revealed by Bwanika, no document or accountability was provided; all he said was that he had returned the money, but no money was returned to the best of our knowledge. All we know is that there are NUP MPs connected to SG who were given funds to run their campaigns,” Mukaaku stated.
He argues that this is pertinent in light of the financial disputes within other opposition parties, such as the FDC.
“Given the circumstances in FDC, we call upon Rubongoya to provide proper accountability for all sources of funds received on behalf of the party; we are aware of the deal he made with MK for fishing NUP members for that Movement,” Mukaaku added.
Mukaaku’s statements follow Bwanika’s comments on a local radio station, in which he compared Rubongoya to M. Goberchev, whom Americans employed to destroy the Soviet Union from within.
Mukaaku went on to say that Rubongoya had a private meeting with the MK team in Entebbe, following which he handpicked Twaha Kagabo, Bashir Kazibwe, and Jimmy Lwanga for the MK project.
“On Rubongoya’s orders, the three NUP MPs publicly embraced MK, having received a portion of the 13 billion during campaigns,” Mukaku stated.
He went on to add that Rubongoya boasted about returning the money, but that while this is what he wanted people to believe, the money actually changed hands with a few persons controlled by the SG.
These findings come at a time when several opposition parties are suspected of collaborating with the ruling NRM party, whereby they belong to their own parties during the day and the NRM at night.
