The National Unity Platform (NUP) has entered a turbulent phase ahead of the 2026 elections, with several prominent Members of Parliament losing the party card after serving only one term.
The latest casualties include Medard Sseggona, Derrick Nyeko, Allan Ssewanyana, and Joyce Bagala, a development that underscores both the internal realignments and the stiff competition within the party.
Busiro East MP Medard Sseggona, a founding member of the opposition and a seasoned legislator, lost the NUP flag to local musician-turned-politician Mathias Walukaga. The shock decision reflects the growing appetite within NUP to front new faces and entertainers with strong grassroots appeal, even at the expense of experienced voices.
Makindye East MP Derrick Nyeko and Makindye West’s Allan Ssewanyana also failed to secure the ticket, despite their vocal presence in Parliament. Nyeko, who was once one of the party’s leading firebrands, and Ssewanyana, who has battled legal woes since his arrest during the term, now face political uncertainty. Their exclusion signals how NUP is distancing itself from figures whose controversies might dent its 2026 image.
Equally surprising is the fate of Joyce Bagala, the Woman MP for Mityana District. A former journalist who unseated then-minister Judith Nabakooba in 2021, Bagala was seen as one of NUP’s breakthrough stories. Her failure to retain the card demonstrates the intense internal competition, especially in districts where the ruling NRM is likely to mount a spirited comeback.
These names join a growing list of NUP MPs who have either lost the party flag, defected, or opted for other political paths after just one term. Christine Ndiwalana, Manjeri Kyebabutika, Paul Nsubuga, Wakayima Musoke, and Aloysius Mukasa are among those sidelined. Others like Mathias Mpuuga, Abed Bwanika, and Nakabuye have crossed to the newly formed Democratic Front, while MPs Twaha Kagabo and Jimmy Lwanga defected to the NRM.
The shake-up has raised questions about NUP’s strategy heading into 2026. While the party leadership argues it is refreshing its ranks with more credible and grassroots-anchored candidates, critics warn that purging sitting MPs risks breeding resentment and splintering the opposition vote.
With Uganda’s political climate becoming more unpredictable, NUP’s decision to deny cards to high-profile incumbents will test whether the party can sustain its momentum from the 2021 wave or whether it risks the same internal fractures that once weakened the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
