A simmering political and personal rift within one of Mbale’s prominent families has burst into the open after Mbale City Woman MP Lydia Wanyoto Mutende publicly admitted supporting an opposition candidate against her own brother in the hotly contested Mbale North Division parliamentary race.
Speaking during an Iftar gathering with Muslim faithful in Mbale this week, Wanyoto revealed that she backed independent candidate Hajji Umar Nangoli in the January parliamentary elections, an admission that has sent shockwaves through local political circles.
The revelation has brought renewed attention to the long-rumored fallout between Lydia Wanyoto and her brother, Paul Wanyoto, both trained lawyers and influential figures in Mbale’s socio-political landscape.
Paul Wanyoto entered the Mbale North Division race as an independent candidate, facing stiff competition from Nangoli and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s official flag bearer, Hudu Hussein.
Throughout much of the campaign period, Paul was widely seen as a frontrunner.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, he lost the seat to Nangoli in the final tally, an outcome that surprised many observers.
Sources within Mbale now point to behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, alleging that Lydia Wanyoto actively worked underground to undermine her brother’s bid.
Her recent public remarks appear to confirm those suspicions.
Wanyoto’s admission is particularly controversial given her long-standing affiliation with the ruling National Resistance Movement.
A seasoned politician, she has previously served as a member of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and held leadership roles in its women’s league.
Her decision to support an independent candidate, while the NRM had officially fronted Hudu Hussein raises serious questions about party discipline and internal cohesion.
Political analysts say her actions could be interpreted as a direct violation of party norms, potentially exposing deeper factional struggles within the NRM in Mbale.
Wanyoto’s own political journey has been marked by persistence.
After several unsuccessful attempts to secure a parliamentary seat in Mbale, she finally broke through in the January elections, winning the Mbale City Woman MP position.
Her victory was seen as a major political comeback, cementing her influence in the region.
However, the latest developments risk overshadowing that achievement, shifting focus to intra-family conflict and political intrigue.
The public nature of Wanyoto’s admission has left many in Mbale questioning the extent to which personal rivalries are shaping political outcomes.
Contacted for comment, Paul Mugoya Wanyoto referred to Greek Tragedies, King Oedipus and Oedipus at Collonus ~Sophocles and remarked “Whom the gods will destroy, they first make mad”, and he hung up
