U-turn: Bobi Wine was fraudulently elected as NUP president - Kibalama tells court

In a twist of events, Moses Nkonge Kibalama, the founding leader of the National Unity Reconciliation and Development Party-NURP which later metamorphosed into the National Unity Platform has said Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, als known as Bobi Wine was illegally elected as the party’s new president.

In August, Basile Difas and Hassan Twaha dragged Moses Nkonge and ten others to court for selling the party without authorization to Kyagulanyi and the name was changed to the National Unity Platform and Kibalama swore an affidavit defending the process of changing the parry leadership.

However, on Friday when the case came up for mention before Justice Musa Ssekaana, lawyer Medard Sseggona informed court that some of the respondents had changed their affidavit

“We have just received a supplementary affidavit from two of the respondents who have changed instructions.  We need time to file a rebuttal,” Sseggona told court.

According to the affidavit seen by the Nile post, Kibalama says that as a founding member and president  of the NURP, he was party to the alleged extra ordinary meeting on July,14,2020 in which Kyagulanyi and others were purportedly elected as new party leaders.

He however says the process was done fraudulently.

“I wish to categorically state that the meeting never took place. What happened was that nine people including  myself, William Odinga Balikuddembe, , Winston Kigozi,, Robert Kyagulanyi, ,Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu , Flavia Kalule, Benjamin Katana, Joel Ssenyonyi and Nubian Li sat and we approved the new party leaders headed by the second respondent(Kyagulanyi) as the party president,”Kibalama says in his affidavit dated September,17, 2020.

“Therefore, the second respondent called 41 other people who signed the attendance list without actually holding the parry delegates conference and the second respondent then filed the false minutes  and resolution with the Electoral Commission.”

In a bid authenticate what he says, Nkonge says he a conversant and authoritative source as regards the affairs of the party since its inception in 2004.

“I realized I had been led to make inaccurate statements in my first affidavit for the sake of joint position with other respondents. I therefore instructed new lawyers to represent me and make a second affidavit.”

Kibalama says that he regrets having being misled into swearing the first affidavit that he says does not speak the truth and has consequently withdrawn it.

On Friday, the respondents’ lawyers led by Medard Sseggona asked court to allow Kibalama be summoned to curt for cross examination over the matter.

“This is a matter of national importance and affects millions of Ugandans and the life of this country. I appeal to you that you allow us just one day to cross examine and know the circumstances under which the affidavit was changed,” Sseggona asked court.

He was supported by all lawyers from both parties and consequently, Justice Musa Ssekaana adjourned the case to September, 25, 2020 for Kibalama to appear for cross examination.

The case

Members of National Unity Reconciliation and Development Party –NURP  dragged to court,  its founder, Moses Nkonge Kibalama , president Robert Kyagulanyi, David Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary-General, party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi, deputy Secretary-General Aisha Kabanda, Secretary for Women Affairs, Flavia Kalule Nabagabe, Secretary for National mobilization Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu and Senior administrative secretary Paul Ssimbwa Kagombe over the recent changes.

Two NURP members Difas Basile and Hassan Twala say that changing the party name to National Unity Platform, leadership from Nkonge Kibalama to Kyagulanyi, party colours, logos and change of list of founder members and subscribers was unlawful since it didn’t follow the party constitution.

The duo also says that handing over of the leadership to Kyagulanyi following an illegal extraordinary delegates conference attended by only 51 members during the Coronavirus lockdown was illegal.

The NUP leaders are accused of illegally taking over leadership of the party without going through the rightful procedures.

The NURP party members want court to declare that it was illegal for Kibalama to hand over leadership to Kyagulanyi and also want court to issue an order to declare all changes illegal and the party returned to the rightful members.