Breaking!! Another NUP MP Flag Bearer Withdraws From Race

Idi Ssemata, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate for the Mawogola North parliamentary seat, has withdrawn from next year’s general elections, dealing another blow to the opposition party’s campaign in Sembabule District ahead of the January 15 polls.

Mr Ssemata becomes the second NUP candidate in the district to pull out of the race, following the withdrawal of Isaac Tumusiime, who had been nominated to contest for the Lwemiyaga County parliamentary seat.

Mr Tumusiime failed to turn up for nominations conducted by the Electoral Commission in October. Three days later, he announced that he had defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), further weakening NUP’s electoral prospects in the area.

In a public statement and a letter addressed to the NUP Secretary General, Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, Mr Ssemata said he had taken the decision to withdraw because he was unable to continue campaigning under the prevailing political conditions.

In the letter, Mr Ssemata stated that democratic values were not being respected and that the political environment in Mawogola North was unfair. He observed that his supporters could not freely exercise their democratic rights and suggested that voters may not have the liberty to choose their leaders through a free electoral process.

However, when contacted for comment, Mr Ssemata declined to elaborate on his decision. He also declined to say whether he had shared his frustrations with his campaign team or other NUP candidates in the area, or what his next course of action would be, saying he would respond to all questions at an appropriate time.

His withdrawal leaves the Mawogola County parliamentary contest with four candidates. These are Godfrey Aine Kaguta Sodo, President Museveni’s younger brother, who is standing on the NRM ticket; Ms Angela Kigonya of the Democratic Party (DP); Mr Moses Lyazi of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF); and Mr John Jet Tumwebaze, an independent candidate.

The development has reportedly caught NUP officials in the district by surprise. Mr Ibrahim Mpuuga, one of the party’s coordinators in Sembabule District, said the party received news of Mr Ssemata’s withdrawal with shock.

He added that teams on the ground were trying to reach out to Mr Ssemata to understand his state of mind and the circumstances that led to his decision.

Mr Ssemata’s withdrawal comes two days ahead of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s scheduled campaign rally in Sembabule District. During recent NRM mobilisation meetings, senior party leaders in the area, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Kahamba Kuteesa and Sembabule NRM Chairperson Maj Gen Phinehansi Katirima, among others, have publicly vowed to eliminate NUP from the district by all means.

The latest developments come against the backdrop of the 2021 general elections, during which the ruling NRM suffered a setback in Sembabule District after losing one of its four parliamentary seats to the opposition.

Ms Goreth Namugga of NUP won the Mawogola County seat, becoming the first opposition Member of Parliament from the district.