When Mathias Mpuuga announced a thanksgiving ceremony, his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), swiftly distanced itself from the event and advised its members to stay away.
The party clarified that any member who attended would be viewed as a rebel.
Attendance Despite Party Warning
Despite this, several NUP lawmakers, including Mr. Medard Lubega Sseggona (Busiro East), Ms. Joyce Bagala (Mityana District Woman), Dr. Abed Bwanika (Kimaanya-Kabonera), Ms. Juliet Kakande (Masaka City Woman), Mr. Michael Kakembo (Entebbe Municipality), and Dr. Twaha Kagabo (Bukoto South), attended the prayers, which had political undertones.
Complications Within the Party
The differences between Dr. Bwanika, Dr. Kagabo, and the NUP leadership are well-known, but the attendance of Ms. Bagala, Mr. Kakembo, and Mr. Sseggona has further complicated matters for Uganda’s leading opposition party. Ms. Bagala, who promoted the event, has become more outspoken in supporting Mr. Mpuuga.
“I urge all NUP members to attend this event because it is just prayers, and there is nothing wrong with having prayers,” Ms. Bagala said before the event, despite NUP’s warnings of repercussions.
Internal Disciplinary Actions
Prior to the Nyendo Mukungwe MP’s event, NUP, through Opposition Chief Whip John Baptist Nambeshe, attempted to discipline Dr. Bwanika and Ms. Bagala by removing them as chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Government Assurance Committee, respectively. However, the efforts, led by Mr. Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LoP), were thwarted by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, which is strategically trying to create more confusion within NUP.
NRM’s Strategy and Impact
The NRM’s strategy seems effective, with Ms. Bagala calling the NUP changes “political” and aimed at purging the party of any support for Mpuuga. “This is political, but we remain committed to the party, and nothing is going to change,” said Ms. Bagala, who joined NUP from the Democratic Party (DP) in 2020 before the 2021 General Election.
Open Calls for Defection
If NUP leadership had been subtle about its intentions, Mr. Francis Zzaake, the Mityana Municipality lawmaker, openly asked Ms. Bagala to join the NRM. “We wanted to get rid of Joyce Bagala and Abed Bwanika for being rebellious. They have defied our president [Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine]. They are dead to us; we no longer need them in our party. They should go to the NRM, which is protecting them,” Mr. Zaake said.
Parliamentary Maneuvers
It is not the first time the NRM has used parliamentary rules to block NUP’s attempts to expel non-conformists. Speaker Anita Among previously dismissed attempts to remove Mr. Mpuuga as commissioner, citing procedural rules. “The letter fails to meet the requirements of Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure and is thus incurably defective. Granting your request would amount to restraining the authority vested in the House,” Ms. Among said in March.
Defying Party Orders
Mr. Sseggona, who was recently replaced as chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), criticized the NUP leadership at Mr. Mpuuga’s function. He dismissed fears that attending the thanksgiving would jeopardize future party nominations. “As an MP and a leader from NUP, I tell you to ignore rumors that the party stopped people from attending, or that attendance would affect their chances in the next election. I wasn’t informed of such a thing,” he told the audience at Kitovu Sports Arena.
Praise for Mpuuga
Mr. Sseggona praised Mr. Mpuuga for “gracefully transitioning from the LoP role to that of a parliamentary backbench commissioner.” He lauded Mpuuga for his resilience during difficult times. “We are here to join in his thanksgiving because we have a reason. When God elevates you and makes you a distinguished and influential person in such a turbulent period, it is worth celebrating,” Sseggona said.
Building a Broad Coalition
Although Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga did not attend the event, sending a representative instead, Mr. Mpuuga’s function was well-planned. He aimed to build a coalition of figures within the Opposition, NRM, Buganda Kingdom, and the Catholic Church. It was no surprise that Mr. Mpuuga claimed he now had the stature to be president of Uganda, directly challenging Kyagulanyi’s ambitions.
“Many people are eager to hear my proclamation today. Some think I want to become NUP president, others think I’m forming a new party, or planning to run for president in 2026,” Mpuuga said. “I have the capacity to serve in all capacities, but I will focus on mobilizing all Ugandans who need change and nurturing young people.”
Support from NRM Members
NRM’s Esther Afoyochan, one of the backbench commissioners accused of receiving a “service award,” praised Mr. Mpuuga for his honesty. “Mpuuga says things as they are. When he tells you he didn’t steal, then he didn’t. That’s what causes issues because we despise our elders,” she said.
Criticism of Internal Struggles
Ms. Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi, another commissioner accused of pocketing the “service award,” expressed disappointment that Mr. Mpuuga’s growth was allegedly being stifled by his own. “Let me thank you for the good leadership of Mathias Mpuuga. Someone asked me what is wrong with Baganda…, ‘they keep fighting their own.’”
Defense of Mpuuga’s Actions
Mr. Solomon Silwany, another commissioner accused of receiving a “service award,” expressed surprise that people criticized Mpuuga for accepting Shs500m when others received billions. “They have been saying Mpuuga stole…why do you think it is bad that Mpuuga is given Shs500m as a service award while others get billions? Who bewitched you? What is wrong with you people of Masaka?” Mr. Silwany asked.
NUP’s Next Steps
Initially, NUP expected Mr. Mpuuga to quit the party, but this hasn’t happened. NUP is now looking for candidates to replace Mr. Mpuuga, Dr. Bwanika, Ms. Bagala, and others for the 2026 elections. For Dr. Bwanika’s position, Mr. Jude Mbabaali, who recently joined NUP from DP, is a contender. “I need to study the party well and see how the primaries will be. You can’t be sure yet,” Mr. Mbabaali said.
Online Criticism and Future Plans
Ms. Bagala has faced criticism from NUP supporters online, and NUP is seeking her replacement for 2026. Mr. Zaake, who helped Ms. Bagala defeat NRM’s Judith Nabakooba in 2021, is leading efforts to find her successor, but Ms. Bagala remains unfazed. “From the organizing committee of Hon Mathias Mpuuga’s thanksgiving, we would like to thank everyone who attended. May God bless and reward you. For those waiting for a new party, well…” Bagala said teasingly.
More dramatic developments are likely in the future.
