A fresh debate has erupted online after several National Unity Platform (NUP) MP aspirants failed to appear for constituency debates organized by NBS Television, drawing criticism from voters who accused the candidates of shunning open engagement with their opponents from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The exchanges on social media saw some voters argue that the absence of NUP aspirants reflected a lack of maturity and readiness to defend their positions publicly.
Others defended the candidates, insisting that the NBS debates were not part of the official Electoral Commission (EC) roadmap and therefore not mandatory.
Amid the online storm, Muwanga Kivumbi, the NUP Buganda Region Deputy President, sought to clarify the matter, distancing himself from claims of an organized boycott and stating that he personally was never invited to participate.
“I up to now didn’t know NBS has MP aspirants’ debates. Why haven’t you invited me? Invite me and I’ll show up,” Kivumbi remarked during an appearance on Sanyuka TV.
He emphasized that he does not manage the party structures responsible for media coordination.
“For the NUP MP aspirants that have not attended when called, I don’t know why. I don’t run the NUP secretariat; it’s the SG David Lewis Rubongoya. And also, the media is handled by the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi. So I’ll ask them if the party is behind this boycott,” he added.
Kivumbi’s comments have prompted further discussion about internal communication within political parties and the role of televised debates in Uganda’s electoral culture.
While NBS has continued to host constituency debates across the country, participation has varied, with some candidates embracing the platform while others remain absent.
As the 2026 election season intensifies, calls for transparency, accountability, and open engagement between candidates and voters continue to grow.
Whether political parties will take firmer positions on participation in media debates remains to be seen, but for now, the conversation highlights both voter expectations and gaps in campaign coordination.
