The Treasurer of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Benjamin Katana, has cautioned opposition leaders who recently met President Museveni to remain focused on the issues that prompted their engagement and avoid what he described as attempts to blackmail fellow opposition actors.
Speaking during Sanyuka Morning Xpress on Monday, Katana said those who sought an audience with the Head of State should concentrate on delivering results on the concerns they presented rather than turning against colleagues who may disagree with their approach.
“The people who went to meet the president should focus on the issues that brought them there and stop blackmailing others,” Katana said.
His remarks follow a high-profile meeting held on Thursday, 5 February 2026, led by Yusuf Nsibambi, Member of Parliament for Mawokota South and Deputy President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for the Central Region.
Other legislators in attendance included Okot Bitek (Kioga County, FDC), Moses Kabusu (Kyamuswa County, PFF), Roland Ndyomugyenyi (Rukiga County), Fred Kayondo (Mukono South, DP), Richard Lumu (Mityana South, DP), and former Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala Ssengendo.
According to participants, the discussions centred on promoting national stability, peace, and reconciliation following a tense post-election period.
Among the issues reportedly raised were the continued detention of individuals linked to political activities and a request for an independent investigation into the detention of Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, Deputy President for Buganda of NUP and MP for Butambala County.
Katana also questioned what he described as a defensive tone adopted by some leaders following criticism of the meeting, suggesting such reactions raise concern.
“Whenever you see someone rushing to defend a position, you know there’s a problem,” he said.
Reflecting more broadly on the general elections held nationwide on January 15, 2026, Katana stressed that national dialogue must be anchored in accountability and integrity.
He argued that the violence and irregularities reported during the electoral period cannot be ignored if the country is to move forward.
“In the election that just concluded, if integrity truly mattered, there shouldn’t have been violence, and everything that happened should be addressed,” he said.
In an interview with NBS Television on Friday, 6 February 2026, Nsibambi defended the State House engagement, stating that his actions were guided by his mandate as an elected representative.
“No one sent me. I am an elected MP, and I will engage with whoever I believe is necessary for the good of my constituents and the country,” Nsibambi said.
The meeting has since drawn mixed reactions within opposition circles. While some leaders have welcomed it as a necessary step toward de-escalation and reconciliation, others argue that unilateral engagements risk undermining collective strategy and opposition cohesion.
