BREAKING NEWS: Allan Ssewanyana’s Supporters Outraged Over NUP Vetting Process, Call for “Constituents’ VAR” and Push for Independent Candidacy

Fresh political drama is unfolding in Makindye West, as a wave of fury and disappointment sweeps through supporters of incumbent Member of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana.

The outrage comes in the wake of what many are calling a shocking and unjust decision by the National Unity Platform (NUP) to deny Ssewanyana the party’s flag for the upcoming 2026 general elections.

According to reliable sources, there is mounting pressure from grassroots supporters who are now demanding what they’ve dubbed a “constituents’ VAR”—a metaphorical reference to the Video Assistant Referee system in football—to scrutinize alleged irregularities in NUP’s internal vetting exercise.

In the party’s vetting process, which was meant to identify the most suitable candidate to represent NUP in each constituency, individuals were assessed on their alignment with the party’s core principles, public appeal, mobilization strength, and grasp of key policy issues.

However, in a dramatic and unexpected twist, the NUP declared Zahara Luyirika—who has been widely known for contesting the Kampala Woman MP seat—as the party’s flagbearer for Makindye West, leaving both Allan Ssewanyana and fellow contender David Musiri out in the cold.

This decision has sent shockwaves through Ssewanyana’s political base. His supporters, ranging from youth mobilizers and market vendors to boda boda riders and community leaders, have not only questioned the transparency of the vetting process but also branded the outcome as a “betrayal of the party’s ideals.”

In a surprising turn of events, even David Musiri, one of Ssewanyana’s main rivals in the race, has filed an official petition with NUP’s internal dispute resolution committee, citing procedural flaws and lack of fairness in the process. The growing discontent now threatens to tear a rift within NUP’s Makindye West branch.

Speaking emotionally during a live call-in segment on Radio Simba, one vocal supporter didn’t hold back.

“The primaries were supposed to be a fair fight, not a rigged match. This mistake insults our trust in NUP’s promise of justice. We demand a constituents’ VAR to set things right, and we’re begging Ssewanyana to go independent—he’s our champion, and we’ll back him to win!” the caller declared, drawing cheers from fellow listeners and studio guests.

In the eyes of many in Makindye West, Ssewanyana remains a man of the people—a grassroots leader with a track record of advocacy and resilience. His supporters argue that the vetting outcome undermines the democratic voice of the constituency and that it is nothing short of political sabotage.

Amid the escalating uproar, calls for Ssewanyana to contest as an independent candidate in the 2026 elections have intensified. Several youth leaders have reportedly begun informal mobilization efforts, while local influencers and business community members are pledging financial and logistical support for what they are already calling “The Real Makindye Movement.”

“We are not against the party,” said one community elder, “but when a mistake this big happens, the people must speak. If NUP doesn’t correct this, we’ll do it ourselves at the ballot box.”

As the National Unity Platform leadership grapples with growing backlash, the situation in Makindye West is quickly spiraling into a test of the party’s internal democracy and dispute resolution mechanisms. Party insiders suggest that emergency meetings are already underway to discuss damage control and reassess the potential fallout from a divided constituency.

One thing is certain: with the 2026 election season already heating up, Makindye West is shaping up to be a political battlefield—one where party loyalty, public trust, and individual ambition will collide. Whether Allan Ssewanyana chooses to go independent or the NUP reverses its decision, the people of Makindye West are watching—and their voices are getting louder by the day.