Politics Of Malice And Blackmail!! Zaharah Luyirika Invests Millions In Bloggers To Abuse Shamim Malende Days After NUP Reconciliatory Meeting

KAMPALA—A fierce and acrimonious battle for the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag for Kampala Woman MP has erupted, with incumbent Shamim Malende accusing her rival, Zaharah Luyirika, of orchestrating a well-funded smear campaign to tarnish her name.

The allegations have sent shockwaves through the party’s ranks, exposing deep fissures just months before the primaries.
Sources within the NUP camp and among the city’s political observers report that Zaharah Luyirika, a relative of government Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, has invested a significant amount of money into her campaign.

This includes, according to the sources, paying prominent bloggers and social media influencers to spread unsubstantiated and baseless accusations against Hon. Shamim Malende.

Bloggers like Kasuku, Shalom, and Frank Ntambi have reportedly been enlisted in this campaign, their platforms now allegedly serving as conduits for misinformation designed to weaken Malende’s standing among NUP supporters.

The alleged strategy is a stark contrast to Malende’s public profile, which is heavily tied to her pro-bono legal work for political prisoners. A renowned lawyer and a staunch advocate for human rights, Malende has dedicated her career to providing free legal services to NUP supporters and other political dissidents who have been arrested and detained across the country. Her commitment to the party’s cause has been a cornerstone of her political identity, earning her widespread respect and a loyal following.

Furthermore, Malende’s dedication to the cause has come at a personal cost. She was notably beaten in parliament last year during a political altercation and had to be admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital for months to recover from her injuries.

This incident, which was widely publicized, cemented her image as a courageous and resilient figure fighting for the opposition’s agenda.
The influx of “hundreds of millions of shillings” into Luyirika’s campaign and the reported use of influential bloggers to attack her opponent have raised concerns among party leaders.

The NUP prides itself on its grassroots support and its fight against the excesses of the ruling government. The use of what some are calling “ruling-party tactics” to win an internal party race is seen by many as a betrayal of NUP’s core principles and a dangerous precedent for future primaries.
Efforts to reach Zaharah Luyirika for a comment on the allegations were unsuccessful.

However, those close to her campaign have dismissed the claims as political mudslinging from a rival who feels threatened. They argue that Luyirika’s campaign is simply leveraging modern communication channels to reach voters and that the accusations are an attempt to distract from her own political platform.

As the NUP primaries draw closer, the battle between these two prominent women is set to intensify. The outcome will not only determine who represents the party in the Kampala Woman MP race but will also serve as a test of the NUP’s ability to manage internal competition and uphold its stated values in the face of money and influence.