The National Unity Platform (NUP) has officially begun vetting candidates vying for its ticket in the 2026 general elections, with party headquarters in Makerere Kavule now a hive of activity and anticipation.
The vetting exercise, which kicked off this week, is part of a two-tier process in which a candidate's final score will be based 40% on performance before vetting committees and 60% on feedback from grassroots consultations.
Inside the NUP compound, emotions are running high as aspirants face a battery of questions from three specialized committees tasked with evaluating their qualifications, credibility, and ability to represent the party. Candidates are being called in according to the positions they are contesting for, and the competition is intense.
“I’m hopeful,” said Latif Ssebagala, who is eyeing the NUP flag for Kawempe Mayor. “But we still need assurance that this vetting process will be transparent and fair, especially when over 50,000 aspirants are involved.”
Ssebagala is one of several party members calling for a dedicated tribunal to handle disputes likely to arise from the process. However, NUP leadership has rejected the idea—for now.
“There is no need for a separate committee to handle petitions at this stage,” said Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, NUP’s Deputy Spokesperson. “We believe in the integrity of our electoral commission. If grievances arise, the party will address them fairly in due time.”
Mufumbiro also defended the unique structure of the vetting process, noting that the hostile political environment forced the party to adapt.
“The political terrain is uneven. That’s why we are carefully selecting our flag bearers to ensure we front the strongest possible candidates,” he said.
The process has proven so demanding that a fourth vetting committee has now been added to manage the overwhelming number of aspirants.
Harriet Chemutai, Chairperson of the NUP Electoral Body, confirmed the development. “The workload is massive, but we’re committed to seeing this through and ensuring fairness across the board,” she said.
Meanwhile, fundraising efforts are also ongoing alongside vetting. Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende made a symbolic gesture of support by handing in her UGX 10 million pledge toward the party’s election fund.
On Monday, local government aspirants from Lubaga North, Kawempe South, and Nakawa West were vetted. Elsewhere, NUP field teams are compiling data on the ground strength of aspirants—a key component of the 60% score each candidate must attain from voter feedback.
The entire vetting exercise is expected to conclude by the end of August.
