In a dramatic political twist that has further deepened divisions in Uganda’s opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, leader of the Democratic Front (DF) and former deputy president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has come out strongly in support of Shamim Malende while accusing Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) of betrayal, nepotism, and turning political leadership into a personal affair.
During a press conference held at DF Party Headquarters in Namirembe Bakuli on Saturday, August 23, 2025, Mpuuga officially declared that his party will not field a candidate for the Kampala Woman MP seat in the upcoming 2026 general elections. Instead, DF will throw its full support behind Shamim Malende, an independent-minded legislator and longtime advocate for human rights and political reform.
“Shamim Malende is a strong and tested supporter of the struggle for change. We will not abandon her now, especially when her own party has decided to betray her in favor of personal relationships and selfish politics,” Mpuuga told journalists.
He revealed that DF’s decision to back Malende came after observing what he described as a “moral collapse” within NUP, where political loyalty is no longer based on commitment to the struggle, but on who is favored romantically or socially by Bobi Wine.
“What used to be a revolutionary headquarters at Kavule has now become a sexual marketplace an embarrassing shadow of what the struggle once stood for,” Mpuuga remarked with visible frustration.
According to Mpuuga, Zahara Luyirika, the current Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Speaker, is being pushed by Bobi Wine to replace Malende as Kampala Woman MP, not for her competence, but for her personal closeness to the NUP leader.
“It’s now about who is in favor with the boss, who’s the side dish of who, not who has stood with the people. That is why Zahara Luyirika is being fronted not because she’s better than Malende, but because of personal indulgences that have no place in real leadership,” Mpuuga added.
He also accused Bobi Wine of abandoning the core principles of the struggle, turning NUP into a money-making machine rather than a revolutionary movement.
In a moment of raw reflection, Mpuuga said he worked closely with Malende during his time as NUP’s Deputy President for Buganda and saw firsthand her dedication to justice, particularly in representing jailed political activists.
“Back then, there was no nonsense. There was no sexual favoritism, no wealth-chasing at every corner. Now, the so-called leadership is obsessed with deals, visibility, and selfish gain,” he stated.
He said NUP has long left the struggle, and what remains at Kavule is “a network of business interests, lovers, and opportunists.”
“They are using people’s pain and sacrifice to build private empires. We refuse to be part of it,” he declared.
DF insiders say the move to support Malende is not only a moral stand but also a strategic one. With growing disillusionment inside NUP, especially in Kampala where the party won overwhelmingly in 2021, DF sees an opportunity to build a credible alternative one based on values and service, not personalities and patronage.
An insider from DF who spoke on condition of anonymity noted:
“This is about reminding Ugandans that not everyone in opposition is for sale. Malende represents the purity of the struggle that many in NUP have lost. We’re not here to split votes; we’re here to restore dignity.”
As the race for Kampala Woman MP heats up, the contest is no longer just about gender or representation it has become a moral referendum on the character of Uganda’s opposition leadership.
Will voters back Malende, the principled fighter left out in the cold? Or will the NUP machinery succeed in selling Zahara Luyirika as a worthy replacement, despite the swirling allegations of personal bias and betrayal?
Mpuuga has made his side clear: “We stand with Malende not just because of who she is, but because of what she represents: the kind of leadership this country desperately needs.”
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