Here are the 20+ NUP strong politicians who have turned independent after party rejected them

• Prominent NUP figures, including former MPs and local leaders, were denied party nomination cards and are now running as independents.

• The politicians claim the party’s vetting process was unfair, favoring others despite their strong local support.

• Unlike NUP, the NRM allows candidates who lose primaries to run independently, as seen with VP Jessica Alupo in 2021.

Several strong politicians from the National Unity Platform (NUP) have decided to run as independents after the party denied them nomination cards. According to NUP rules, being denied the official card automatically disqualifies a candidate from representing the party.

Often, party president Bobi Wine has criticized these individuals, suggesting they work for Museveni. The politicians, however, argue that the NUP internal vetting committee was unfair, claiming they were stronger on the ground than the candidates selected. They maintain they had 40–60% support in their constituencies, but favoritism influenced the final decisions.

As per NUP laws, if you are not given a nomination card and choose to stand as an independent, you are no longer considered a party member.

Here are some of the notable politicians affected:

1. Medard Lubega Ssegona – Denied the card in favor of singer Mathias Walukaaga (Busiro East).

2. Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa – After serving one term as Mityana Woman MP, she was replaced by Proscovia Nabbosa.

3. Matia Lwanga Bwanika – Former Wakiso District governor, denied the Busiro South seat, given to Matovu Charles.

4. Hon Allan Ssewanyana – In Parliament since 2011, dropped for Zaharah Luyirika.

5. Aloysios Mukasa – Denied Rubaga South, replaced by Euginia Nassolo.

6. Francis Katabazi – MP for Kalungu, card given to Kiruluuta Yusuf Jr Nkerettanyi.

7. Nabukeera Hanifah – Mukono District Woman MP; she returned as an independent in Mukono Municipality, where Betty Nambooze is active.

8. Angella Kyebakutika – Busoga Woman MP, dropped for Lwasa Nsula in Jinja East City.

9. Emmanuel Magoola – Running as an independent in Busiro East, card given to Walukaaga.

10. Nalubega Fausta Bitaano – Mityana seat given to Nabbosa.

11. Steven Kaweesa – Nansana, card given to Zambali Bulasio.

12. Tom Muwonge – Former mayor of Kasangati Town Council, card given to incumbent Nkunyingi Muwadda.

13. Abbey Kikomeko – Busiro South, card given to Matovu Charles.

14. Roy Ssemboga – Kawempe South, card given to Nyanzi Fred Ssentamu.

15. Ssekidde Robert (Tuff B) – Makindye East, card given to Ali Mulyanyama.

16. David Musiri and Ntege Farouk – Makindye West, card given to Zaharah Luyirika.

17. Nakandi Winifred – Initially for Kampala Woman MP, switched to Mpuuga’s Democratic Front; running in Nakawa East, card given to Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro.

18. Mugga Adam Swift – Rubaga South, card given to Euginia Nassolo; remembered for recalling his ambulance after being denied the card.

19. Bamu Lulenzi – Former mayor of Iganga Municipality; one of three NUP winners in Busoga region not given a card.

20. Peter Alton Kassolo – Former mayor of Jinja City, card given to Kirunda.

21. Bakaluba Mukasa – LCV Mukono District, now running as MP after being denied the card.

22. Sauda Madada – Denied card but defied party rules and is running as an independent.

It should be noted that the NRM also has over 200 MPs who did not get their nomination cards, but over 150 have expressed interest in running as independents. The key difference is that President Museveni allows them to run independently. For example, current Vice President Jessica Alupo lost the NRM primaries in 2021 but won the general election for Katakwi District Woman MP, after which President Museveni appointed her Vice President. Each party handles these situations differently.