The National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Election Management Committee is embroiled in a bribery scandal after reports emerged that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Speaker Zahara Luyikira allegedly paid UGX 15 million to secure the party’s flag for the Kampala Woman MP race.
Luyikira is competing against incumbent Shamim Malende and Winfred Nakandi, a concubine of NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine. According to a party insider, Luyikira paid the money to John Mary Ssebuufu, a commissioner on NUP’s Election Management Committee, to influence the flag bearer selection process in her favour.
NUP leadership has reportedly opened an investigation into the alleged bribery. However, many within the party doubt its sincerity, with some members claiming that buying of party flags is an open secret in NUP.
“This is just hypocrisy. Everyone knows flags are sold to the highest bidder. Why is there an investigation now? Because the money didn’t go to Bobi Wine or Fred Nyanzi?” A disgruntled party member fumed.
Another insider added, “When Nyanzi was extorting money and harassing female party members sexually, no serious action was taken. But now that someone outside the family is involved, suddenly there’s an inquiry.”
This latest scandal follows previous allegations of corruption and misconduct within NUP. In July, Bobi Wine launched an investigation into his elder brother, Fred Nyanzi, over claims of sexual harassment and extortion of party members. However, the findings were never made public, and critics accuse the party of shielding Nyanzi.
The ongoing controversy has fuelled accusations that NUP operates on a transactional system, where money rather than merit determines who gets party tickets.
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