Tension is rising within the National Unity Platform (NUP) following allegations that Rubaga North parliamentary aspirant James Mubiru accepted a UGX 70 million bribe to step aside in favor of incumbent Abubaker Kawalya. The alleged deal has sparked anger among supporters and concern among party insiders.
Mubiru, now under heavy scrutiny both inside and outside the party, says he is “very scared” as talk of the alleged payoff spreads quickly through Rubaga North and NUP headquarters in Kamwokya.
“Everywhere I go, people are whispering about it. I’m very scared. It’s all over the constituency and even at the headquarters,” Mubiru told the media this week.
Sources within NUP claim the UGX 70 million offer came from NUP top officials and individuals close to Kawalya, in an attempt to prevent vote splitting in the 2026 elections. But the plan may have backfired.
Instead of staying quiet, Mubiru has gone public possibly fearing backlash or trying to distance himself from blame. However, party insiders claim he was fully involved from the beginning.
“He took the money thinking no one would find out. Now that the story is out, he’s pretending to be innocent,” said a trusted NUP insider who asked not to be named.
Supporters in Rubaga North aren’t convinced by Mubiru’s sudden fear. Many are demanding answers from the NUP leadership, accusing the party of betraying its values of fairness and accountability.
Rubaga North is considered a key NUP stronghold, especially among the youth, and has long been known for rejecting political corruption. The idea that candidates can be paid off behind closed doors has sparked outrage at the grassroots level.
“If they can sell out Rubaga North this easily, what else are they willing to trade in 2026?” asked a frustrated youth mobilizer.
A source within the party added that such cash deals are not new. According to political observers, money has played a role in NUP’s internal decisions for some time, especially during the candidate vetting process.
The same source quoted political analyst and lecturer Mr. John Kaggwa, who said:
“NUP’s vetting process often favors those who offer more money sometimes even involving bribes to other candidates to step aside for people close to Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).”
Another political analyst, Asuman Bisiika, a veteran journalist, also weighed in, saying:
“Many are now questioning NUP’s internal democracy. The National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s current delegates’ conference at Kololo is being praised as more transparent. NUP should learn from NRM’s example in selecting its leaders.”
As of now, neither Abubaker Kawalya nor the top NUP leadership has publicly responded to the allegations. But silence, in this case, may be worsening the situation. The scandal continues to grow, with some worried it could harm NUP’s national image especially in competitive constituencies.
“This isn’t just about Rubaga North. It raises bigger questions about how NUP manages power, loyalty, and money. If they don’t fix this quickly, they risk losing public trust ahead of 2026,” warned another political analyst.
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