Mawokota North legislator, Hillary Kiyaga, also known as Dr. Hilderman, has said he will not seek to retain his seat if he does not obtain the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket for the 2026 elections.
The singer-turned-politician was elected as the Mawokota North MP on the NUP ticket during the 2021 general elections, defeating the then-incumbent Amelia Kyambadde.
However, there are concerns about his chances of securing the NUP ticket for the upcoming elections, largely due to his previous association with NUP's nemesis, Mathias Mpuuga.
Appearing on Sanyuka Television on Tuesday morning, Hilderman affirmed his commitment to NUP, stating that if he does not receive the party's ticket, he will not run for the parliamentary seat.
"If I don't get the NUP ticket, I won't be on the ballot. However, I will remain dedicated to the party's activities, as expected of me, because I understand NUP's vision and its future direction," Hilderman remarked.
He emphasized that obtaining the NUP ticket is not his main focus at the moment; rather, he is committed to the party's objective of ensuring that NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, wins the presidency next year.
"The ticket is not my priority right now. My priority is to support Kyagulanyi in his presidential campaign. I understand the party's vision and respect its constitution. I can't come on television and claim that I'm guaranteed the NUP ticket," Dr. Hilderman stated.
Hilderman's relationship with NUP got complicated last year following his silence regarding corruption allegations against fellow legislator Mathias Mpuuga, who faced criticism for receiving a controversial Shs500 million service award in 2022, which led to a censure motion against the former Leader of Opposition by some MPs.
Despite pressure to speak out or align with the critics, Dr. Hilderman chose to remain silent.
However, he would later explain at a gathering that his silence was due to his respect for Mpuuga as a fellow Catholic and mentor, a stance that did not resonate well with NUP supporters.
"I failed to decide on Mpuuga because of conflicting interest; he is my fellow Catholic and Muganda who has been guiding me and serving as my role model. How do you expect me to judge him?” Hilderman said in June last year.
Since then, he has been noticeably absent from NUP events, fueling speculation that he may lose the NUP ticket in the upcoming elections.