There’s confusion, frustration, and a bit of heartbreak brewing in Eastern Uganda.
As the National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine kicked off his 2026 presidential campaign trail in Busoga sub-region, the mood on the ground has been anything but celebratory — especially for supporters in Jinja and Iganga.
Why? Because while the campaign has started, the full list of who’s flying the NUP flag in key races like MPs, Mayors, and local councils has not been officially revealed — and the few names that have surfaced have left many people asking: “Wait, what happened to our leaders?”
Several well-known NUP leaders — many of whom helped build the party’s support base in Busoga since 2020 — have been quietly dropped or replaced, causing deep concern among their supporters.
Manjeri Kyebakuttika, a strong voice in Parliament and a face many voters trusted, has been replaced by Sarah Lwansasula, a new and relatively unknown name to many voters. For some, this change feels like progress — a fresh face for a new era. But for others, it feels like a betrayal of loyalty and hard work.
In another stunning move, Mayor Peter Kasolo, a.k.a. “Okacha”, has been replaced by Mubarak Kirunda. Kasolo has been a visible NUP figure for years — active in party mobilization, vocal on city matters, and a recognizable face in Jinja politics.
Now, his replacement by Kirunda — a rising youth mobilizer — has left the city in shock
In Iganga Municipality, Bamu Lulenzi — a young, energetic mobilizer who had started his campaign early — has been denied the party ticket. Instead, the NUP flag has been handed to Abed Nasser Mudiobole, a lawyer and seasoned opposition activist.
As Bobi Wine launched his campaign in Busoga this week — drawing massive crowds in towns like Kamuli, Iganga, and Jinja — many people were expecting to be introduced to the full slate of candidates who will represent the party.
In fact, outside of the few reshuffles already known, most constituencies still don’t know who the official NUP candidates are — even as campaign posters are going up and rival parties are holding rallies.
This silence has left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over an otherwise powerful movement.
