A political storm has hit the National Unity Platform (NUP), and it’s tearing the party apart from within. At the center of the chaos is the controversial and unexplained removal of Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende, a long-time loyalist and fierce defender of the party, from the list of flag bearers for the 2026 elections.
The leaked vetting list, which has been circulating widely on social media, has caused anger and disbelief among party members and supporters. It shows Malende being dropped in favor of Zahara Luyirika, a relatively unknown figure with questionable grassroots support.
This move has been seen as nothing short of betrayal and the blame is falling squarely on the party’s top leadership, especially Bobi Wine, the party president.
“This is not the party we built,” said Sarah Nakalema, a Makindye-based supporter. “Bobi Wine has turned into the very thing he used to fight. He’s sidelining real fighters like Malende to promote puppets.”
Malende, a lawyer who bravely represented NUP supporters jailed during and after the 2021 elections, is widely viewed as a symbol of courage in the party. Her removal from the list has shocked many, considering she never stopped standing with the party even when it meant risking her life.
“I am disappointed, but not broken,” Malende said in an interview on CBS FM recently. “The struggle is bigger than me. If the people still want me, I will continue to serve them in or out of the party.”
Her statement is being interpreted by many as a green light to run as an independent, and the response has been overwhelmingly supportive.
“We’re with Malende, not NUP,” said Ronald Mutebi, a boda boda rider from Kawempe. “While others were hiding in hotels, Malende was dodging teargas and bullets. Bobi Wine needs to remember who the real fighters are.”
The list in question doesn’t just target Malende. It also pushes aside other high-profile NUP figures like Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine’s own brother), Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana, and musician-turned-politician Tuff B, who were all seen as natural front runners in the Kampala races.
Instead, the leaked list promotes a lineup of handpicked candidates, many of whom have little to no public trust or mobilization power. This includes Zahara Luyirika (34 vetting, 41 ground), who’s name has now become the symbol of NUP’s broken internal democracy.
Meanwhile, the only figure to top the list is Joel Ssenyonyi, the current Leader of Opposition, who scored 38 in vetting and 54 on ground. While Ssenyonyi has his fans, some insiders accuse him of being part of an elite circle around Bobi Wine that’s shutting out independent voices in the party.
“This is no longer People Power,” said Agnes Kabuye, a youth activist from Rubaga. “It’s Elite Power. The party is now controlled by a few who don’t care what the people think.”
Despite NUP’s official statement claiming that the list is fake, the damage is already done. The party’s attempt to downplay the situation has only deepened public suspicion and widened internal divisions.
“If the list is fake, why haven’t they released the real one?” asked David Sserunkuuma, a political blogger. “This silence shows there’s something they’re hiding.”
As the Electoral Commission’s nomination window (Sept 16–17, 2025) approaches, the stakes are getting higher. NUP, once hailed as the most promising political force in Uganda, now faces a crisis of credibility, unity, and leadership.
Supporters are openly clashing on radio talk shows, television panels, and Twitter/X threads. Some are calling for a complete overhaul of the vetting committee, while others are beginning to question Bobi Wine’s leadership altogether.
“Bobi Wine has lost the plot,” said James Lutalo, a political analyst. “He promised a new Uganda, but he’s running NUP like an old, tired party. If they can’t organize a transparent candidate selection, how will they govern a country?”
With every passing day, NUP seems more divided, more confused, and more distant from the people it claims to represent. As more loyalists are cast aside and replaced with loyalists to the “inner circle,” the question must be asked:
Is NUP still a people’s party, or has Bobi Wine turned it into a political cult?
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