The National Unity Platform (NUP) is tightening its grip ahead of the 2026 general elections. The party’s deputy president, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, has called on party president Robert Kyagulanyi—also known as Bobi Wine—to issue a 30-day ultimatum to party members who have distanced themselves from NUP activities.
At the center of the storm is a group of MPs who skipped a crucial training organized for Buganda region representatives. The event was intended to align party members on strategy, policy, and grassroots mobilization ahead of the next national vote.
Among the notable absentees were:
- Abed Bwanika, MP for Kimanya-Kabonera
- Bashir Kaziibwe Mbaziira, MP for Kawempe South
- Mathias Mpuuga, MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe
- Jimmy Lwanga, MP for Njeru Municipality
- Dr. Twaha Kagabo, MP for Bukoto South
Lwanga and Kagabo have recently been associated with the Patriotic League of Uganda, a development that has raised eyebrows within NUP ranks. Their absence was interpreted as a growing defiance among some MPs—what Kivumbi referred to as “rebellion.”
“We must protect the integrity of our party,” Kivumbi said during the training. “I urge our president to give these MPs one month. Let them apologize, or we begin fronting new candidates for their seats.”
The statement signals a hardening stance within NUP against perceived disloyalty, especially among MPs seen to be leaning towards President Museveni or his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
“Can we honestly survive more years under Museveni?” Kivumbi asked pointedly. “We trusted you with our party ticket. How can you align yourself with the very forces we are fighting to remove?”
Kivumbi’s push to enforce internal discipline comes as the party begins its early groundwork for 2026. The Buganda regional training was part of a broader effort to educate members on governance, electoral strategy, and public accountability.
Party insiders say the leadership is growing increasingly frustrated with MPs who fail to participate in meetings, avoid mobilization activities, or publicly flirt with rival political platforms.
Although the NUP has not officially named replacements, Kivumbi’s call for new candidates sends a strong message: loyalty and presence matter now more than ever.
Efforts by Kampala Town to contact Mpuuga and Bwanika for comment have so far been unsuccessful. Both MPs have remained silent amid growing tension within the party.
As the NUP tries to solidify its foundation and distance itself from internal dissent, the next 30 days could prove pivotal—not just for the so-called rebel MPs, but for the party’s cohesion heading into what promises to be a high-stakes election cycle.
