The ongoing internal conflict within the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party, despite disregarding Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga’s plea for reconciliation among party leaders, has caused turmoil within institutions, including the Buganda Kingdom.
The conflict, originating from corruption allegations against Mathias Nsamba Mpuuga in parliament, has turned social media into a battleground between NUP President Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi and his supporters, and Mpuuga, a former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament who also serves as the party’s Deputy President overseeing Buganda.
Kyagulanyi’s recent decision to suspend Mpuuga from his position as Deputy President in Charge of Buganda highlights NUP’s defiance toward the Buganda Kingdom, as Katikiro had urged NUP leaders to prioritize harmony over discord.
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, NUP leaders, including Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition, Lewis David Rubongoya, the Party Secretary General, along with some party MPs and councillors, accompanied by supporters, converged on Buganda Palace at Mengo to meet with the Prime Minister of the Buganda Kingdom, Mayiga.
During the Mengo meeting, Mayiga implored NUP leaders to show respect and patience towards one another, emphasizing that leadership entails dealing with individuals of varying dispositions.
However, on Thursday, March 28, 2024, Kyagulanyi suspended his deputy, contrary to Mayiga’s call for respect, tolerance, and forgiveness. This action suggests that NUP has not learned from past events and remains unyielding. Mpuuga’s suspension validates recent media claims that NUP’s president and his supporters disrespect and disparage the Kabaka.
This was confirmed by Ssenyonyi on Wednesday while briefing supporters before the Mengo meeting. In the book of John, Chapter 14, Verse 21, Jesus proclaimed that those who hear and obey his commands demonstrate their love for him.
How can NUP leaders claim to respect the Kabaka when they disregard his counsel and that of his representatives? Last year, Mpuuga warned that he would not tolerate NUP supporters who insult the Kabaka.
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, prior to his suspension, Mpuuga pledged to remain in the party and work towards implementing internal reforms to transform it into a credible and effective government-in-waiting. However, his aspirations seem thwarted now, as influencing reforms within the NUP without a platform may prove challenging.
The central region has historically been a stronghold for the NUP. However, with the party leadership defying the Buganda Kingdom’s call for reconciliation, its position in the political landscape for the 2026 general elections appears uncertain.
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