The executive committee of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has endorsed 380 flag bearers to contest for various parliamentary positions across the country as the party finalises preparations for the 2021 general election.
Currently, there are more than 400 MPs in Parliament.
NUP party officials said the 380 candidates were vetted by the party in the last three weeks in an exercise that attracted 653 candidates.
Sources within the party yesterday said there was stiff competition in picking candidates for the Kampala Metropolitan area, one of NUP’s strongholds.
“Some parts of the country presented between one and two competitors and some of the slots were unopposed. NUP did not get candidates for some constituencies in greater North and West,” the source said.
Ms Mercy Walukamba, the party chairperson for the electoral committee, told Daily Monitor that all the successful candidates underwent a rigorous process to sieve out the would-be incompetent leaders in their various constituencies.
“We have selected these people using various yardsticks. Where we could have missed out someone’s competence, we asked them to appeal and a review was carried out forthwith, to make sure we have the right people,” she said.
On Monday night, NUP released a list of more than 100 MP flag bearers for the central part of the country among whom were MPs who crossed from the Democratic Party to the new political formation. Among some of the notable names on the list are Mr Mathias Mpuuga for Mukungwe County, Mr Abed Bwanika for Kimanya Kabonera, Mr Aloysius Mukasa for Rubaga South, and Mr Joel Ssenyonyi for Nakawa East.
Other flag bearers are Mr Fred Nyanzi for Kampala Central MP, Mr Ronald Balimwezo for Nakawa East, Mr Fred Ssimbwa for Nakifuma County, Mr Muwadda Nkunyinji for Kyadondo East, and Mr Lwanga Jimmy for Kira Municipality.
After the release of the list, the surprise names that missed out included Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi’s elder brother Eddie Yawe, who had expressed interest to contest in the Kira Municipality race, Mr Patrick Mujuuka who was vetted for Nakifuma County, and Mr Tony Ssempebwa who was dropped in Kyadondo East.
Other big names missing include Moses Kasibante, Allan Ssewanyana, Mukaku Lubega, Muwanga Kivumbi and Sulaiman Kidandala.
Most of the hotly contested areas in Kampala did not have flag bearers’ names. Sources within NUP told Daily Monitor that there were tight decisions to make after all members who had expressed interest had gone through the vetting process successfully.
By press time, yesterday, the party was yet to release the list for the flag bearers from the eastern region.
Ms Walukamba said the list of all the flag bearers will be released at different intervals based on the regions of the country.
BUIKWE
Njeru Mun – Lwanga Jimmy
Buikwe South – Sembuya S Magulu
Lugazi Mun – Sserubula Stephen
Woman – Faridah Nabatanzi
BUKOMANSIMBI
Bukomansimbi North –Ndagire Christine
Bukomansimbi South – Kayemba G Solo
Woman – Nanyondo V. Namaganda
BUTAMBALA
Butambala County – Muwanga Kivumbi M
Woman – Aisha Kabanda
GOMBA
Gomba East – Saazi Godfrey
Gomba West – Lukwago Gonzaga
Woman – Ssentamu Betty
KALANGALA
Kyamuswa County – Kambugu Cyrus
Bujumba County – Re-evaluate
Woman –Hellen Nakimuli
KALUNGU
Kalungu East – Katabazi F. Katongole
Kalungu West – Ssewungu J. Gonzaga
Woman – Phionah Mirembe Kiggundu
BUVUMA
Buvuma Islands – Mpalanyi Vicent
Woman- Susan Mugabi
KAMPALA
Rubaga North – Re-evaluate
Rubaga South – Aloysius Mukasa
Kampala Central – Nyanzi F. D Ssentamu
Nakawa West – Joel Ssenyonyi
Nakawa East – Balimwezo Ronald
Kawempe South – Re-evaluate
Kawempe North – Re-evaluate
Makindye East – Nyeko Derrick
Makindye West – Re-evaluate
Woman – Shamim Malende
KASSANDA
Bukuya County- Jane Zaninka Babirye
Kassanda North – Nsamba P. Oshabe
Kassanda South – Frank Kabuye
Woman – Flavia Kalule
KAYUNGA
Baale County – Charles Tebandeke
Ntenjeru North – Patrick Serubili Hays
Ntenjeru South – Badiru Mukiibi
Woman – Nakwedde Harriet
KIBOGA
Kiboga East – Nkugwa Kizito
Kiboga West – Muhammud Kibuuka
Woman – Christine Nakimwero Kaaya
KYOTERA
Kyotera County – Kirumira C. Edward
Kakuuto County – Geofrey Lutaaya
Woman – Joan Kyokunda
KYANKWANZI
Butemba County – Jackson Maweto
Ntwetwe County – Re-evaluate
Woman – Comfortable Evelyn
LUWEERO
Katikamu North – Denis Sekabira
Katikamu South – Hassan Kirumira
Bamunanika County – Robert Sekitoleko
Woman – Brenda Nabukenya
LWENGO
Bukoto Mid-west – Re-evaluate
Bukoto West – Re-evaluate
Bukoto South – Re-evaluate
Woman – Nakasagga Elizabeth
LYANTONDE
Kabula County – Damulira Ali
Woman – Re-evaluate
MASAKA
Bukoto Central – Kazibwe Magellan
Bukoto East – Kanyike Stephen Evans
Nyendo-Mukungwe – Mpuuga Matthias
Kimanya Kabonera – Abed Bwanika
Woman- Re-evaluate
Woman (Masaka City)- Nakabuye Juliet Kakande
MITYANA
Mityana North – Gordon Ssematiko
Mityana South – Buyondo Sulaiman
Busujju County- Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga
Mityana Mun – Zaake Francis Butebi
Woman – Joyce Bagala
MPIGI
Mawokota North – Hillary k. innocent
Mawokota South – Joel Mirembe
Woman- Nambooze Teddy
MUBENDE
Buwekula North – Re-evaluate
Buwekula South – Ainebyona Ronald
Kasambya County – Re-evaluate
Mubende Municipality – Bob R. amanywa
Woman – Nabawanuka Sumayah
MUKONO
Nakifuma County – Ssimbwa Fred
Mukono North – Kiwanuka Abudallah
Mukono South – Wilson Male
Mukono Municipality – Nambooze Bakireke Betty
Woman – Hanifa Nabukeera
NAKASEKE
Nakaseke North – Re-evaluate
Nakaseke Central – Allan Mayanja
Woman – Violet Nakalema
NAKASONGOLA
Budyebo County- Nathan Musoke
Nakasongola County – Kyeyune Ivan
Woman – Annet Namugooma
RAKAI
Buyamba County – Balaba Jimmy
Kooki County – Henry Ndinaiwe
Woman – Re-evaluate
SEMBABULE
Mawogola North – Henry M. Nyanzi
Mawogola South – Namugga Goreth
Mawogola West – Twesigye K. Henry
Lwemiyaga – Re-evaluate
Woman – Babikola Zaituni
WAKISO
Busiro North – Nsubuga Paul
Busiro South- Re-evaluate
Busiro East – Lubega Medard Sseggona
Nansana Mun – Wakayima Musoke
Entebbe Municipality – Kakembo Michael
Kyadondo East – Muwadda Nkunyiinji
Kira Municipality- Lukwago Jimmy
Makindye Ssabagabo- Re-evaluate
Woman – Naluyima Betty
CENTRAL YOUTH
Kasule Moses
Credit: www.monitor.co.ug
