By Spy Uganda
In Uganda’s political landscape, party delegates’ conferences are often grand affairs—complete with extensive mobilization, stage-managed declarations, and choreographed unity. But the National Unity Platform (NUP) took a markedly different path during its recent delegates’ conference. Quiet, compact, and held under a veil of uncertainty, the event was a sharp contrast to its significance. From this understated setting, the party reaffirmed its leadership and made key decisions ahead of the crucial 2026 general elections.
At the heart of it all was the swearing-in of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a.k.a Bobi Wine, as the party president for another five-year term. Just like President Museveni, whose position as NRM chairperson often goes unchallenged, Kyagulanyi was elected unopposed. This rare alignment in the political culture of Uganda’s two most dominant parties is telling—it reflects a maturing sense of consensus within both formations, and perhaps a growing political realism.
Speaking after taking the oath at the NUP Leadership School in Kamwokya, Kyagulanyi acknowledged the hurdles the party faces, especially what he termed a “hostile environment of intimidation.” Despite those challenges, the party went ahead with its inaugural delegates’ conference under Kyagulanyi’s leadership.
“We have just held our delegates’ conference; we have just reconstituted our national executive committee, and we are up and running,” Kyagulanyi said. “It was noble for those who stepped aside, but it was even more noble and courageous for those challenged…so nobody is a loser in the National Unity Platform.”
His message was clear: unity is not just about consensus but also about respect for the democratic process. It’s a message that resonates strongly, especially when so many Ugandans feel disillusioned by divisive politics.
Kyagulanyi also used the moment to rally his newly constituted leadership for the battles ahead. “Let’s go to work. We have a massive election ahead of us, and we have tough times ahead. And by the grace of God, we shall win.”
The conference also saw Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, re-elected as the party spokesperson after defeating fellow legislator Allan Ssewanyana. Ssenyonyi, speaking to the press after the event, criticized the use of force against their gatherings by state security agencies.
“We shall continue telling our people to keep peace, but there is always a limit to what people can accept. We are writing a protest letter to security agencies to ask them why they are mistreating us,” he said.
Other key outcomes from the conference included:
- David Lewis Rubongoya retaining his role as Secretary General, unopposed.
- Frank Kabuye (Kassanda South MP) taking over from Francis Zaake as Secretary for Youth.
- Akiso Benjamin replacing David Musiri as Head of Institutions.
Despite its importance, the conference left many questions unanswered—particularly regarding transparency. The number of delegates in attendance and the process by which they were selected remains unclear. Ssenyonyi mentioned that the party constitution provides for 127 delegates but offered no further details on how they were chosen.
Yet, even with the criticism, the party seems to have achieved what it set out to do: reaffirm leadership, reorganize its executive, and send a message of unity and readiness.
The contrast with the ruling NRM is striking. While NRM’s delegates’ conferences are elaborate productions often dominated by uniformity and symbolism, NUP’s low-key gathering reflected a more grounded, battle-hardened organization—accustomed to operating under pressure, but still charting a course toward institutional maturity.
Ultimately, Bobi Wine’s unopposed re-election may draw comparisons to Museveni’s uncontested leadership within the NRM, but the spirit and tone could not be more different. Where one party commands state machinery, the other survives on resilience. But both now stand on similar ground when it comes to internal consensus—an unexpected, but telling, development in Uganda’s evolving democratic story.
As the country inches toward the next general election, the quiet decisions made in Kamwokya may end up being louder than they seemed.
