NUP MPs On Notice As Wine Vows To Revoke Party Tickets Over Mpuuga Stance

National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has castigated his party’s MPs for abandoning him during his recent botched countrywide tour and pulling out of the party president’s personal witch-hunt against the former Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga.

The NUP leader’s anger was palpable during a parliamentary caucus meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Makerere-Kavule on November 20th, 2024. Only 32 out of 57 NUP MPs attended the meeting, with notable absentees including Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala), Betty Nambooze (Mukono Municipality), Zaake Francis (Mityana Municipality), and opposition chief whip Jonn Baptist Nambeshe (Manjiya).

Bobi Wine’s anger was directed at the MPs’ lack of support during his national tour, where he was often left alone to face the challenges. He expressed his disappointment, saying, “I am not happy with how you abandoned me, the person who toiled to make you MPs. Up to now.”

Bobi’s rage was provoked by NUP MPs’ loud absence during the tour he made. In Kamuli, for example, only three MPs attended: Timothy Batuwa from Jinja City West Division who is benching the NUP ticket in the 2026 elections, Manjeri Tibetika, the Jinja City Woman MP (NUP), and Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

The situation worsened in Abim, where Bobi Wine was completely abandoned by his MPs. He was left with only his senior brother Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, the head of party mobilization, David Lewis Rubongoya, the Party Secretary General, and Vice President for the northern region, Lina Zedringa.

In Buikwe, Bobi Wine was joined by a handful of MPs, including DP’s Luttmaguzi Ssemakula, Derrick Nyeko, and Betty Nambooze, who is struggling to retain her party card. Other attendees included Stephen Sserubula, Gareth Namugga, Suzan Mugabi, and Manjeeri Kyebakutika.

The blatant disregard for the party leader’s tours was a clear indication of the MPs’ dissatisfaction with both party funds’ utilization and Bobi’s remote-control leadership style.

The Bobi Fight Against Mpuuga

The NUP leader also expressed his disappointment and frustration with his party’s MPs for their sudden pull-out of the fight against arch-rival Mpuuga.

“You [MPs] started it well, but I am surprised, you have given up on the fight against Hon Mpuuga who is the biggest threat to me, and the NUP party at large,” Bobi reportedly told the MPs.

He noted that Comrade “Waiswa Mufumbiro is keeping the fight against Mpuuga alive, but emphasized that it cannot hold without the collective voice of the parliamentary front.”

Bobi Wine commended the new Leader of Opposition, Joel, for doing a great job in the fight against Mpuuga.

“As the mainstream party leadership, we played our part… Through the sustained battle against the former LoP, we found a way of joining energies with friendly forces in NRM led by Hon [Theodore] Ssekikubo to launch a censure motion,” he revealed.

However, Bobi Wine explained that they could not start the censure motion against Mpuuga due to concerns about being misunderstood by the Buganda Kingdom, Catholic Church, and traditional opposition where Mpuuga wields influence,

“We could not start the censure motion against Mpuuga… thus engaging our loba dab style to uproot that Mpuuga.”

During the caucus meeting, Bobi Wine acknowledged that Mpuuga had outsmarted them and won, but emphasized that they had taken some points from him as a collective force.

“Yes, he [Mpuuga] outsmarted us, and won, but I can assure you that we took some points from him as a collective force,” he said.

The NUP leader warned the MPs that the fight against Mpuuga is still on and that they should not give up.

“My friends, I can tell you, Mpuuga is a wise man, and he has proved himself as a heavy tall with serious consequences on us as an organization, but we should not give up on him because we are a people-power product,” stone-faced NUP leader Bobi reportedly said.

In conclusion, Bobi Wine warned the MPs that their party tickets during the forthcoming elections, would be issued based on their performance, particularly in the fight against Mpuuga. Should MPs fail, Bobi indicated, their competitors who would be rated better in hounding Mpuuga, may be favoured by the party.

“As your president, I would like to warn you all, we are watching all your actions, and I want to assure you that next time, our tickets will be given based on the performances, especially on our fight against the thorny Mpuuga…”

Patrick Nsanja, an Independent MP from Ntenjeru South, who is closely working with the NUP, with major focus on securing the NUP ticket attended the meeting. To starters, Nsanja is putting his position as the Secretary on the Kingdom’s Sports Committee to smuggle invitations to NUP officials including Bobi, and Ssenyonyi yet they stand accused of being involved in the heinous attacks against the Kingdom officials including the Katikkiro, and Kabaka.

Bobi Wine’s warning to MPs has sparked a heated debate within the NUP, with some MPs expressing their dissatisfaction with the party leader’s stance. Some party supporters, who feel that Bobi is being too harsh on the MPs, have also criticized the NUP leader’s actions.

The NUP’s internal conflicts have raised concerns about the party’s ability to present a united front in the face of opposition from the ruling party. As the party navigates these challenges, it remains to be seen how Bobi Wine’s leadership will shape the NUP’s future.