Why NUP chose Latif Ssebagala not Chameleone in Kampala

Many Ugandans were left speechless after the National Unity Platform dumped singer turned politician Joseph Mayanja alias Jose Chameleone by denying him the party flag for the Kampala mayoral race.

Kawempe North Member of Parliament, Latif Ssebagala was instead chosen to carry the party’s flag.

Some people have thought that given the music relationship between Mayanja and NUP leader, Bobi Wine, the singer stood a better chance of being handed the flag.

But this was not to be the case.

Mayanja and Ssebagala were vetted last week to vie for the highest position in the city which is currently occupied by Erias Lukwago who crossed from the Democratic Party to the Forum for Democratic Change.

According to the sources in NUP camp, Mayanja was dropped after failing to present appropriate academic qualifications which are necessary for nomination by the Independent Electoral Commission.

The sources also indicated that Mayanja did not have a national identity card among others things which could have led to choosing another candidate over him.

However, the party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi said the party committee made a wide-ranging assessment on who should be the NUP candidate for the position, between the two candidates.

He explained that candidate selection process entailed many things which included a harmonisation meeting between the contestants vying for the same position.

"More importantly our team was sent on ground to ascertain what people are saying because this is People Power. People must be involved in the selection process,"he said on Sunday.

"These teams were in every corner of the constituency interacting with the people. They may not go everywhere in the constituency but they reach in a good number of places, so Hon Latif Ssebagala had an edge over Joseph Mayanja."

According to Mercy Walukamba,the chairperson, Election Management Committee, the singer and other aggrieved parties can appeal against the decision.

“All aggrieved parties may lodge appeals to the Electoral Management Committee by dropping them off at the Central Region office located in Lubaga, Kampala. All appeals must be lodged in by September 20th, 2020 at 4:00 pm and must state specific grounds on which appeal is premised,” Walukamba said in a statement.