Kampala Woman MP race: Nakandi slams NUP’s focus on Malende & Luyirika

• The Kampala Woman MP race has sparked tensions within the National Unity Platform (NUP). Aspirant Winifred Nakandi has criticised the party for sidelining other contenders in favor of Hon. Shamim Malende and Zahrah Luyirika. 
• She argues the selection process lacks fairness and transparency, urging NUP to clarify its vetting procedures.

Aspiring Kampala Woman MP Winifred Nakandi has voiced her dissatisfaction with her party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), regarding the way it is managing the selection of the party’s candidate for this election. It’s important to highlight that the race for Kampala Woman MP has turned into a highly contentious battle for the Kavule-based party.

The incumbent, Hon Shamim Malende, and Zahrah Luyirika are leading the charge to obtain the party’s nomination, and unpleasant comments have been exchanged between their supporters in recent days.

This situation led the party to convene a meeting aimed at mediating between the two women, which was headed by the party deputy, Hon Muwanga Kivumbi, and Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya.

Some of the agreements reached included that both women would participate in a respectful and fair competition. Muwanga also cautioned that the party would reject both candidates and initiate a new nomination process if they fail to comply with these agreements.

However, Nakandi, who is also in the running, stated that she was unaware of the party hierarchy’s meeting. Like many of her supporters, she learned of it through the news and was taken aback.

Nakandi expressed her confusion about the events unfolding within the party because she believed all contenders in the race should have been invited. She also questioned the rationale behind the party’s decision to call for new nominations if it disqualified the two, considering that other candidates who sought nomination are still available.

Additionally, she inquired whether the nomination forms she and other candidates submitted held any significance. The MP hopeful emphasized that the party needs to clarify whether they will be taken into consideration so as not to waste their time.

“I was just as astonished as you, my supporters, after discovering the party leadership was mediating between the two candidates, Hon Malende and Hon Zaharah. I want to understand the criteria they used to summon only those two women when there are many candidates interested in the position. Furthermore, what would be the purpose of calling for new nominations if they disqualify the two while the rest of us who collected nomination papers are still in the mix? The party should inform us whether the vetting process means anything or not, so we don’t squander our time and that of our supporters campaigning for votes,” she stated.

This is just one of several issues the party led by Bobi Wine is encountering during its candidate selection process. Various candidates and their supporters have voiced their frustration with the approach taken.