By Our Reporter
Held at the NUP Leadership School in Kamwokya, the event saw the swearing-in of a new National Executive Committee (NEC), with Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) reaffirmed as party president for another five years.
Though modest in scale, this was the party’s first official delegates’ conference under Kyagulanyi’s leadership, and it delivered major structural changes as NUP prepares for the 2026 general elections.
“We have just held our delegates’ conference; we have just reconstituted our national executive committee, and we are up and running,” said Kyagulanyi in his post-swearing-in address. “I want to congratulate all the winners and all of you who participated in this election. Nobody is a loser in the National Unity Platform.”
He praised those who stepped aside for unity, as well as those who courageously contested, emphasizing the importance of respectful internal democracy. He also urged newly elected leaders to rise to the challenge of shaping the party’s future in a difficult political environment.
“Let’s go to work. We have a massive election ahead of us, and we have tough times ahead. And by the grace of God, we shall win.”
NUP leaders, including Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and newly re-elected Party Spokesperson, spoke candidly about the challenges the party faces—especially state interference.
“We are a registered political party, but continue to face harassment from security agencies. We shall continue encouraging our people to keep peace, but there is a limit to what they can tolerate,” said Ssenyonyi, adding that a protest letter had been written to authorities over recent incidents.
Despite the achievements, the conference did not go without criticism. The number of delegates who attended and the process through which they were selected remained unclear to the public. According to Ssenyonyi, the NUP constitution allows for 127 delegates, but further explanation on the selection criteria was not provided.
New Faces, Strategic Positions: The Elected NEC Members
Below is a list of some of the key leaders elected during the conference:
- Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) – Party President (Re-elected, unopposed)
- David Lewis Rubongoya – Secretary General (Retained position, unopposed)
- Joel Ssenyonyi – Party Spokesperson (Re-elected after defeating Allan Ssewanyana)
- Frank Kabuye (MP, Kassanda South) – Secretary for Youth (Replaces Francis Zaake)
- Akiso Benjamin – Head of Institutions (Replaces David Musiri)
These appointments reflect a mixture of continuity and transition—combining experienced hands with younger leaders expected to energize the party as it heads toward a pivotal electoral season.
While some critics have raised eyebrows over the conference’s closed nature, the message from Kamwokya was loud and clear: NUP is organizing, unifying, and getting ready. The low-key nature of the event belied its significance—marking a turning point for a party that has often been on the defensive.
As NUP readies itself for 2026, the composition and cohesion of this new NEC will play a defining role. In a nation still grappling with questions of democratic space and political fairness, the ability of opposition parties to maintain internal order and momentum will be critical.
Quiet as it was, this delegates’ conference may just have laid the groundwork for one of the most consequential political chapters in NUP’s journey yet.