Bobi Wine Gains Momentum as NRM and FDC Defectors Flock to NUP in Elgon
The political tides in Eastern Uganda are shifting fast as key leaders from both the ruling NRM and opposition FDC parties have crossed over to the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
At a highly attended regional event held at St. Andrews Cathedral in Mbale City, former FDC Bugisu Coordinator Hajj Musa Massa and ex-Mbale Mayor Zandya Mutwalibi publicly declared their allegiance to NUP, citing hope and unity as driving factors behind their decisions.
“There’s too much division in FDC. I believe in NUP’s future, and that’s where I want to be,” said Massa, a respected former local leader.
Other notable defectors include Yusuf Murami, Bakali Mubaje, Ahamed Salim, and Robert Kuloba, all of whom pledged support to the Kyagulanyi-led movement. Murami noted that the group was inspired by a mentor who had already joined NUP.
The event doubled as an induction ceremony for newly recruited NUP grassroots leaders, attracting hundreds of delegates from across Eastern Uganda. Kyagulanyi used the platform to warn against opportunism, urging recruits to join the cause for genuine change rather than personal gain.
“We’re not in this for comfort. We risk imprisonment—and our lives—for justice. If you’re seeking convenience, stay with the NRM,” Kyagulanyi told the crowd.
He emphasized that NUP flag bearers for the upcoming 2026 elections would be chosen based on grassroots loyalty and values, not political connections or access to headquarters.
The new members took an oath of allegiance, reaffirming their commitment to NUP’s vision of democracy, justice, and accountable leadership.
Kyagulanyi also rallied them to boost community engagement through structures like “Egali”, local vigilance teams designed to strengthen the party’s grassroots presence and protect electoral integrity.
Although John Baptist Nambeshe, NUP’s Eastern Region Vice President, missed the event due to official duties in Egypt, his deputy Andrew Kiizakaluya reassured attendees of Nambeshe’s support.
The growing momentum in the Elgon region and the rapid expansion of NUP’s local networks suggest a significant political recalibration ahead of the 2026 general elections. With defections from both ends of the political spectrum, NUP appears well-positioned to challenge the status quo in Uganda’s evolving landscape.
