Parliamentary Commissioner Mathias Mpuuga recently discussed the significant choice he and other Democratic Party (DP) members made to leave their longtime political base and join the National Unity Platform (NUP).
According to Mpuuga, the decision, though difficult, was driven by a desire to give new leadership a chance.
''We made the tough choice to leave DP and decided to start and join a new party. At the time, we indicated that we wanted to give Mr Kyagulanyi a chance to lead the new party, and we had to explain to key stakeholders who he was, as few people knew him for his political views'', he stated
Mpuuga acknowledged that presenting Bobi Wine, as a political figure posed initial challenges. “We had to introduce him to key stakeholders, to show people who he was beyond his music career,” he said.
“Many were unfamiliar with his ideas and political vision, so we took on the task of bridging that gap.”
Since its formation, NUP has become a powerful presence in Uganda’s opposition. Mpuuga believes that by backing Kyagulanyi’s leadership, they have opened up new possibilities for political engagement, bringing fresh energy to the national political conversation and giving voice to previously underrepresented Ugandans.
