Allan Ssewanyana, the Member of Parliament for Makindye West, has publicly challenged the National Unity Platform (NUP)'s decision to drop him as the party's flag bearer for the 2026 elections. Despite the party's endorsement of Zahara Luyirika for the seat, Ssewanyana insists he is still the rightful candidate and maintains that he enjoys the strongest support within the constituency.

The NUP Election Management Committee (EMC) recently selected Luyirika as the preferred flag bearer for Makindye West, citing her stronger grassroots appeal. However, the announcement has triggered internal discord, with Ssewanyana accusing party leaders of political scheming and betrayal.

Originally, Zahara Luyirika had expressed her intentions to vie for the Kampala Woman MP position, a contest that would have placed her against the incumbent, Shamim Malende. But in a surprising turn, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) reassigned her to Makindye West, effectively displacing Ssewanyana without her having initially sought the seat.

Speaking to his supporters in Nsambya on Wednesday, Ssewanyana questioned the legitimacy of the party’s choice. “I became the first NUP MP for Makindye West in 2021, and it was not by mistake. I am a hardworking person who has lived by the party’s values and served my people diligently. I was elected overwhelmingly, and the people still want me to continue,” Sewanyana declared.

He emphasized his popularity by pointing to the 2021 election results, in which he secured 18,116 votes defeating Achilles Lubega (NRM), who received 4,358 votes, and Ntege Farouq (Independent), who garnered 4,270. He argues that these numbers prove his strong bond with the electorate.

In a bold act of resistance, Ssewanyana has launched a new campaign featuring posters of himself in handcuffs, an allusion to his 2021 arrest alongside the late Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya. The two were detained over alleged involvement in the Masaka machete killings, accusations they both long maintained were politically driven.

Ssewanyana addressed the crowd, asserting that his legal ordeal cost his constituents adequate representation. He framed his arrest as punishment for standing firmly by NUP principles. “We were persecuted because we spoke out. NUP was a new party then, and I took the risk to stand for it when others hesitated. I have the vetting results, and they show that I was the best candidate. I will not reveal how I got them, but just know, I will contest,” he vowed, receiving loud applause.

His resistance highlights broader unrest within NUP, as more incumbents question the fairness of the party’s vetting process. Among them is Makindye East MP Derrick Nyeko, replaced by Ali Nganda Mulyanyama, and Lubaga South MP Aloysius Mukasa, who has also promised to run as an independent.

With tensions rising, NUP now faces the significant challenge of addressing dissatisfaction among sidelined incumbents while preserving party unity and credibility in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.