National Unity Platform

The National Unity Platform (NUP ), whose previous name was National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party is a liberal progressive political party in Uganda led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and the party spokesperson is Joel Ssenyonyi. The NUP was led by Moses Nkonge Kibalama, from December 2004 until July 2020. On 14 July 2020, Kyagulanyi assumed leadership of the party and was declared the party flag-bearer in the upcoming February 2021 Ugandan presidential elections.[1]

National Unity Platform
LeaderRobert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu
FoundedDecember 2004
HeadquartersKamwookya, Kampala, Uganda
Political positionCentre-left
National Assembly of Uganda
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Background

The NUP was formed in December 2004, headed by Moses Kibalama. For the next 16 years, he served as the President of the party.[1]

In July 2017, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was sworn in as the member of parliament representing Kyaddondo East Constituency in the 10th Parliament (2016-2021). To win that constituency, he beat two seasoned politicians in a by-election; Sitenda Sebalu of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and Apollo Kantinti of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).[2]

While running for the Kyaddondo East seat, Kyagulanyi was shunned by both the DP and FDC political parties, so he ran as an Independent candidate.[3] He adopted the People Power slogan as his rallying call, leading to what is referred to as the People Power Movement in Uganda.[4][5]

On 22 July 2020, the founders of NUP, together with leading personalities from the People Power Movement, disclosed that Kyagulanyi had been elected President of NUP and presidential party flag bearer in the upcoming 2021 national elections.[6][7]

The party is registered with the Uganda Electoral Commission. The party's symbol is an umbrella in red and white colors.[8]  

On 28 July 2020, the party unveiled membership cards that cost USh1,000, an amount they said did not discriminate against social class and would be affordable to every Ugandan.[9]

On 3 August 2020, the party president unveiled five members of parliament who crossed that day to the National Unity Platform. These included John Baptist Nambeshe (NRM), Patrick Nsamba (NRM), Francis Zaake (Independent) and Busujju’s legislator David Kalwanga (Independent).[10] On 13 August 2020, sixteen more Members of Parliament, joined the NUP political party, crossing from the Democratic Party (DP). This brought the total number of MPs who have joined Kyagulanyi in NUP, during the first two weeks of August 2020 to twenty one (21).[11]

See also

References
  1. Nixon Segawa (22 July 2020). "Bobi Wine To Run For Presidency Under National Unity Platform Political Party". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  2. Job Bwire (11 July 2017). "Bobi Wine Swears In As Kyaddondo East MP". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. Sulaiman Kakaire (29 August 2018). "Bobi Wine: The making of people power". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. Dickens Olewe (6 September 2018). "Bobi Wine: The pop star seeking 'people power'". London: BBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. Patience Akumu (4 October 2018). "With Bobi Wine, people power could finally win in Uganda". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. Jason Burke (22 July 2020). "Reggae star Bobi Wine launches new political party in Uganda". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. Derrick Wandera (22 July 2020). "Bobi Wine unveils new political party". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. SoftPower (22 July 2020). "Bobi Wine Takes Over New Political Party As President". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  9. Edge Uganda (28 July 2020). "Bobi Wine unveils NUP membership cards". Kampala: Edge Uganda. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  10. SoftPower News (3 August 2020). "Five MPS Some From NRM, Mayors Join Bobi Wine's NUP". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  11. Derrick Wandera and Shabiba Nakirigya (14 August 2020). "21 MPs join Bobi Wine". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
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