Mityana District Woman MP Joyce Bagala has strongly rejected allegations that she is switching political allegiance, amid a growing storm of speculation fueled by controversial posters circulating in the district.
Posters bearing Bagala’s image and emblazoned with the logo of the newly formed Democratic Front party have appeared suddenly in key areas including Wabigalo, Banda stage, Mityana Tax Park, and along Market Street, sparking rumors about her loyalty.
Bagala, a prominent member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has maintained a visible working relationship with Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga, who recently launched the Democratic Alliance (DA) before moving on to Democratic Front.
Career journalist Bagala has in the person spoken of her long-running friendship with Mpuuga but this association has further fanned speculation that she might defect to the former Leader of the Opposition's new political grouping.
However, speaking on a popular Mityana radio station, Mboona FM, yesterday, Bagala categorically dismissed the rumors.
“I want to make it very clear: I have never left NUP and I am not joining DA,” she stated firmly during the live program.
“Those circulating these posters are driven by fear and desperation. This is political blackmail aimed at confusing the electorate and undermining my credibility. But I know where I stand with my party.”
Bagala emphasized that her cordial collaboration with MP Mpuuga is grounded in shared values rather than a shift in political allegiance.
“You can work across party lines without switching parties,” she explained.
Sources close to Bagala describe the poster campaign as a coordinated smear effort by political opponents threatened by her popularity ahead of the polls.
“This is a tactic by rivals who lack a credible alternative and want to discredit Joyce Bagala,” a senior member of her campaign team said on condition of anonymity.
Adding to the speculation were reports of Bagala’s absence from some recent NUP events, particularly at the party headquarters in Kavule, which critics interpreted as disengagement.
However, Bagala’s public appearance at the NUP Delegates Conference held at Kavule earlier today strongly reaffirmed her commitment.
“I remain a proud and active member of the National Unity Platform. No amount of blackmail will deter me from serving the people of Mityana,” Bagala told journalists after the conference.
With the contest for the Mityana Woman MP seat intensifying and political intrigue deepening, analysts predict a fiercely contested campaign season ahead.
As party lines harden and tactics unfold, voters are urged to remain vigilant against misinformation and manipulation.
For now, Joyce Bagala is resolute in staying the course, focusing on her legislative duties while preparing for a tough re-election battle in 2026.