NUP election official warns against premature endorsements in Mukono vetting process

The National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Election Management Committee (EMC) member, Harriet Chemutai, has condemned the growing practice of prominent politicians declaring preferred candidates before the conclusion of the party’s official selection process.

Speaking during ongoing vetting sessions in Mukono, Chemutai cautioned that early endorsements undermine fairness and transparency, creating the perception that the process is predetermined. “It does not mean that if one person is mentioned, then the rest have no chance,” she said. “If a few people can come out and say, ‘since this one has been harmonized, the other automatically becomes the flag bearer,’ then we are not doing the right thing.”

Her remarks follow recent comments by NUP’s Buganda Region Deputy President, Muwanga Kivumbi, who told supporters in Nakifuma that Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga would switch from the Mukono South parliamentary race to contesting for the LC5 chairperson seat.

Kivumbi also hinted at a “young and new entrant” in the Mukono South race — widely believed to be former Makerere University Guild President, Robert Maseruka. The statements have unsettled aspirants still undergoing vetting, with some viewing them as premature endorsements that risk alienating both candidates and supporters. Chemutai likened the process to an examination, warning against attempts to “cram” or share interview questions.

“Different commissioners will ask different questions. If you bring small notes on your expression of interest forms, we shall disqualify you automatically,” she said, adding that vetting accounts for 40% of the decision-making, with the remaining 60% determined by grassroots input.

Tensions have also been heightened by Mukono Municipality MP and NUP District Chairperson, Betty Nambooze, who has openly advocated replacing incumbent LC5 chairperson Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa. She accused Bakaluba of drifting from party principles and aligning with the ruling government.

Bakaluba denied the claims, saying no one from the party had formally engaged him on any concerns, and accused leaders of making decisions “behind closed doors.” Other aspirants have accused Nambooze of manipulating the process to sideline certain contenders — allegations she has rejected, insisting her stance is strategic rather than personal.

“Leadership choices are not always about personal popularity,” Nambooze said. “What we are seeing is politics of frustration.” Chemutai reminded candidates that NUP’s focus is unity and selecting the most capable flag bearers. “All of you are equally good, but at the end of the day, we can only have one flag bearer per position,” she stressed. With the 2026 general elections approaching, political observers warn that if NUP fails to resolve its internal disputes in Mukono, its electoral prospects in the region could be significantly weakened.