Disgruntled NUP Members Reportedly Engage in Secret Talks with PLU After Being Denied MP Party Flags

Fresh reports emerging from the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Kamwokya point to growing unease and internal strife, as top party officials, including party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (popularly known as Bobi Wine), grapple with what insiders describe as “a dangerous wave of silent defections.”

Sources within the party reveal that some members who were recently denied the party flag for the upcoming 2026 elections are now engaging in secretive discussions with the rival Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a camp politically aligned with First Son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.

According to multiple reliable insiders, these behind-the-scenes talks are centered around a potential strategy for the disgruntled NUP members to contest as independent candidates in the 2026 general elections—allegedly with the financial and logistical backing of PLU operatives.

It is further claimed that these individuals have been promised substantial government support, and in some instances, even “assured victory” at the ballot box, provided they agree to support government-aligned positions once elected to Parliament.

Names Emerging from the Shadows

Among those reportedly engaged in these quiet negotiations are several high-profile legislators: Hon. Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West), Hon. Derrick Nyeko (Makindye East), Hon. Joyce Bagala (Mityana Municipality), Hon. Abed Bwanika (Kimaanya–Kabonera), and Hon. Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo–Mukungwe).

While both Mpuuga and Bwanika are known to be affiliated with the Democratic Front—a coalition of opposition-leaning politicians—sources still view their reported interest in PLU-aligned circles as a serious concern for NUP’s internal cohesion.

Reports suggest that Kyagulanyi was especially disheartened to learn that Hon. Bagala and Hon. Mpuuga were allegedly part of the group holding talks with the PLU camp. The party president had, until recently, maintained cordial relations with both MPs.

However, the relationships seem to have deteriorated in recent months. In Bagala’s case, insiders claim that her standing with the party diminished after she reportedly received external legal support—possibly from sources close to the regime—during her election petition case in 2021.

As for Hon. Mpuuga, tensions between him and the NUP leadership have been more public. The controversy surrounding the “service award” scandal earlier this year cast a long shadow over his relationship with Kyagulanyi and created deep divisions within party ranks.

Controversies Around Ticket Denials

At the heart of the unrest are unresolved disputes surrounding the NUP’s internal vetting process for party flag bearers in the run-up to the 2026 elections. Several sitting MPs and their supporters have raised red flags about what they perceive to be increasing favoritism and lack of transparency in how the party selected its official candidates.

In Makindye West, supporters of Hon. Ssewanyana voiced strong discontent after the NUP flag was reportedly awarded to Hon. Zahara, a move they claim was influenced by her alleged close relationship with former mayor Mulyanyama, a figure believed to hold sway over key party decisions in the area.

In Mityana, Hon. Joyce Bagala was denied the party ticket in favor of a relatively unknown candidate named Naboosa, who is said to be closely connected to Hon. Zaake Butebi. Party insiders further suggest that Bagala’s long-standing friendship with Mpuuga may have raised eyebrows and contributed to her exclusion from the final list of flag bearers.

Similarly, in Makindye East, Hon. Derrick Nyeko’s team accused party officials of bias, claiming that the selection process was skewed to favor loyalists of certain individuals within the NUP leadership. Supporters cited a lack of transparency and fairness in the process, warning that such internal favoritism would cost the party dearly in the upcoming elections.

These clashes have created deep rifts within the NUP structure, leaving the party’s top leadership anxious about the consequences of a fractured membership. Sources say that the growing mistrust and disappointment among long-serving MPs could weaken the party’s ability to mount a united and effective campaign against the ruling establishment in 2026.

Crisis Meetings and Silent Panic at Kavule

Although the NUP leadership has not issued any official public statement on the matter, insiders confirm that a flurry of closed-door meetings has been taking place in Kavule over the past several days. These meetings, reportedly chaired by senior party figures, are aimed at evaluating the situation, identifying those likely to defect, and coming up with strategies to retain key political players.

“There is real panic,” one source from inside Kamwokya told reporters. “This isn’t just about losing candidates—it’s about what they know and who they can influence. If these MPs cross over to PLU or decide to run independently with support from that camp, it could fracture the opposition vote significantly.”

The developments come at a crucial time for NUP, which has positioned itself as the main opposition force to challenge President Museveni’s decades-long hold on power. With the 2026 elections drawing nearer, the party faces the daunting task of keeping its house in order while fending off both internal rebellion and external political maneuvers.

Whether NUP can weather this growing storm and reassert its unity, or whether it will suffer major losses through silent defections and fractured loyalties, remains to be seen.