A wave of political energy swept through Makerere Kavule on Wednesday as hundreds of National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters flooded the party’s headquarters to return expression of interest forms ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
Leading the charge was the “Nakawa clique,” a high-profile delegation of NUP leaders from Nakawa Division, including Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, Nakawa East aspirant Waiswa Mufumbiro, and singer-turned-politician Buken Ali, popularly known as Nubian Li, who is contesting for the Nakawa mayoral seat.
“We have been tested in this term, and we have delivered. Despite all the challenges we’ve faced, we’ve served our people and represented their voices. That’s why we’re confident of victory in 2026,” said Ssenyonyi, to roaring cheers from supporters.
Their arrival sparked jubilant scenes, with supporters lining the roadside and disrupting traffic along the stretch near the NUP headquarters.
Security forces, including the Special Forces Command (SFC) and regular police officers who have maintained a visible presence in the area in recent weeks, were deployed to manage the swelling crowd.
Inside the NUP compound, the atmosphere was electric. Chants, ululations, and music reverberated as aspirants submitted their documents.
Among the prominent figures present were Mityana Woman MP Joyce Bagala, Katikamu South hopeful Micheal Kintu, and Jinja City mayoral aspirant Tasi Calvin.
Waiswa Mufumbiro told the crowd that Nakawa was not sending candidates to experiment. “The people of Nakawa know us. We’ve stood with them through thick and thin. We are not coming to try — we are coming to win,” he declared.
Nubian Li added: “This is not just about politics; it’s about restoring dignity to our communities. We are ready to serve.”
The party’s internal electoral commission confirmed that the process of receiving and verifying the returned forms was running smoothly.
Kawempe North MP Hajji Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola also formally declared his bid for re-election, issuing a stern warning to security agencies against voter intimidation.
“If security agencies ever again attack innocent voters in my constituency, they will face serious resistance. We will not tolerate violence against civilians,” Nalukoola warned.
Other aspirants who submitted their papers reiterated their commitment to NUP’s values of service, justice, and accountable leadership.
The NUP will continue to receive expression of interest forms until June 23, 2025, after which the official nomination process for internal party primaries will commence.