I never imagined I would reach a point where I would openly express disappointment in a movement I have funded, defended, and believed in with everything I have. My name is Lubwama John, and in the last four years, I have personally contributed over 50 million shillings to NUP. I did not give this money because I am wealthy. I gave it from sacrifice. I gave it because I believed Uganda deserved better. I gave it because I thought we were building a disciplined vehicle for real change.
But today, as I look at the numbers, the fundraising posters, the endless Zoom drives, and the complete absence of accountability, I am not sure we will ever see the Uganda we were promised. My frustration is not theoretical. It is practical. It is visible. It is painful.
We Have Raised Billions… But Couldn’t Field Candidates Across the Country. Let me start with the numbers in front of us. Uganda has 499 parliamentary constituencies. According to the data, NUP fielded only 292 candidates. That means: We gave away 207 constituencies, we surrendered 41% of the battlefield before the fight even began. Where did our thousands of fundraising drives lead us if we could not even fill the ballot paper? How do you hope to win national power when you begin the journey with almost half the country uncontested?
Even the ruling party, with all its weaknesses, fielded candidates in all constituencies. FDC tried. UPC tried. But NUP the “party of the future” left nearly two whole regions wide open. How does a party raising billions from Uganda and the diaspora fail to build structures, fail to support candidates, fail to train agents, and fail to fill seats? This is not strategy. This is negligence and negligence paid for by people like me.
We Have Been Fundraising Non-Stop With Zero Accountability I have contributed to:
- Diaspora fundraising campaigns
- Protest vote campaigns
- “Free the prisoners” campaigns
- Constituency support drives
- Head office donation drives
- Zoom appeals from chapter after chapter
Every time, the emotional lines are the same: “We are fighting for freedom.” “We need to stand with the oppressed.” “Every shilling counts.” Yes, every shilling counts. But apparently every shilling disappears too. Never — not once — have we received a consolidated statement showing:
- How much was raised
- Who handled the money
- How it was spent
- Which constituencies were funded
- Which prisoners were supported
- Which activities were implemented
Instead, we are greeted with new Zoom links, new mobile money numbers, and new speeches. Meanwhile, not even basic structures were funded.
How Do You Preach Change When You Can’t Manage a Party Budget? Let us be honest with ourselves. If a party cannot:
- Account for mobile money
- Account for diaspora dollars
- Account for land purchases
- Account for quarterly funding from government
- Account for MP contributions
- Account for ticket sales
- Account for its own internal finances
Why should we trust it with:
- The national budget
- Oil revenue
- Public service management
- National security
- The lives of millions
Change is not about shouting louder. Change is about managing better.
We Sacrificed. Others Upgraded. While we were sending money from our sweat: Some people were building mansions, children were studying abroad, lifestyle upgrades were appearing in plain sight. Relatives were living better than the struggle they claim to fight; I ask myself: Did my 50 million build the struggle? Or did it build someone’s comfort?, Did we finance liberation? Or did we finance luxury?
Photo Credit: CBS FM
I Still Want Change — But not like this. Let me be clear. I am not writing this because I have switched sides. I am writing this because Uganda deserves discipline. Real movements self-correct. Real leaders accept scrutiny. Real accountability protects the people, not the politicians. We cannot shout about corruption in government when we cannot give receipts for our own contributions. We cannot call out incompetence in the regime while failing to field candidates in nearly half the country. We cannot promise a new Uganda when we are repeating the old mistakes with new slogans.
My Message to NUP Leadership, before you ask for another shilling from supporters:
- Account for the money already collected
- Publish a full financial report
- Explain why 41% of constituencies were left empty
- Show us how the diaspora contributions were used
- Provide proof of support to candidates, prisoners, and families
Do this not for us, but for the Uganda you claim to fight for because right now, it feels like the only thing we are liberating is money.
I Have Given 50 Million. I Have Earned the Right to Speak. I am tired of being silent. Tired of being taken for granted. Tired of sending money into a black hole. Tired of watching incompetence being wrapped in emotional language. If we truly want change, then we must demand it — from everyone, including those we support.
I am Lubwama John, I have given 50 million to the struggle and today, I am not sure if the struggle is still ours or if it has become a business for a few. Until transparency arrives, my wallet is closed not because I hate the struggle, but because I love Uganda enough to demand accountability.
Lubwama John is a National Unity Platform member, who resides in Kampala