✍️By Bakinyumya Douglas Paapa Ov Uganda
(Political TV Producer & Host – @BDouglasPaapa)
03th /October /2025
The National Unity Platform (NUP) has once again released its list of parliamentary candidates for the 2026 elections, triggering shockwaves and fierce debate within Uganda’s political landscape. Prominent figures, including Medard Lubega Ssegona (Busiro East), Joyce Bagala, Allan Ssewanyana, and Christine Ndiwalana, were controversially denied party tickets in favor of lesser-known entrants or political newcomers who have recently joined the party.
This move has sparked immediate backlash, with several incumbent MPs vowing not to accept their ouster quietly. Busiro East’s Medard Lubega Ssegona, whose exclusion elicited widespread anger on social media, has made it clear that he is far from broken. He has announced his intention to contest as an independent candidate, reaffirming his commitment to his constituents and pledging to continue the fight for better governance in Uganda. “I will be guided by the people and stakeholders of Busiro East,” Ssegona stated, underscoring the growing tension between party leadership and long-serving MPs.
Internal Strains Within NUP
Beyond individual grievances, the controversy exposes deeper challenges within NUP’s internal politics. Legal and party sources indicate rising frustration over figures like Shamim Malende, whose critics allege she undermines the party by prioritizing personal visibility over collective work. Party lawyers claim that Malende often dominates media narratives around political prisoners’ cases without substantial input, generating friction and resentment within the legal team.
Additionally, questions are surfacing about loyalty and alignment within Kampala’s opposition. Allegations that Malende might be covertly supporting Erias Lukwago against NUP’s Ronald Balimwezo in the Lord Mayor race—driven by personal, religious, or political motives—signal potential fractures that could undermine opposition cohesion ahead of 2026.
Relevance of Party Cards and the Problem of Lifetime Leadership
The NUP saga prompts a larger question for Uganda’s political system: do party cards still hold relevance in elections where personal influence, patronage, and strategic maneuvering increasingly determine outcomes?
It also shines a harsh light on the concept of “lifetime MPs.” As a political analyst, I observe that if President Museveni’s decades-long rule has exposed the dangers of overstaying in power, opposition parties must resist replicating the same patterns. Hon. Medard Lubega Ssegona’s case is a stark reminder that leadership is not a permanent entitlement. Renewal, accountability, and responsiveness to constituents must take precedence over personal ambition.
NUP’s decision to sideline several long-serving MPs may signal a strategic effort to reshape the party’s path: promoting dynamism, discouraging complacency, and ensuring that fresh voices emerge to represent the aspirations of Uganda’s largely youthful population. Whether this will strengthen the party or fuel internal dissent remains to be seen.
In Conclusion: Uganda’s Political Crossroads
As Uganda approaches the 2026 elections, the interplay of party loyalty, personal ambition, and generational change will define its political narrative. The NUP’s battle against overstaying MPs is emblematic of a broader struggle within the nation: the fight between entrenched authority and emergent leadership, between political loyalty and the will of the people.
Ultimately, the message is clear: political power is temporary, party cards are tools—not guarantees, and leadership is earned, not inherited. How Uganda’s opposition navigates these tensions will shape not only the outcome of the elections but the future of democratic governance in the country.
✍️ By Bakinyumya Douglas Paapa Ov Uganda
(Political TV Producer & Host – @BDouglasPaapa
