Uganda’s leading opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) have nullified the membership of party members who defied their directives and contested the Kawempe North by-election as independents.
The decision comes after several members from NUP ignored internal party endorsements and ran as independent candidates in the recently concluded Kawempe North by-election.
The by-election was triggered by a vacancy in the parliamentary seat drawing intense competition and political maneuvering.
NUP has branded these individuals as traitors and immediately revoked their party memberships.
NUP’s Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya accused the expelled members of betraying the party’s unity and objectives stating;
“Politics is about discipline and structures. You cannot belong to a party and then undermine it when it suits you. These individuals are no longer members of NUP.”
Similarly, the NRM disciplinary committee declared that loyalty to party structures is non-negotiable warning that such defiance will be met with severe consequences moving forward.
The Kawempe North by-election was one of the most hotly contested in recent times with opposition strongholds clashing over candidates, strategy and political loyalty.
NUP which has dominated the constituency hoped for a unified front but was shaken by internal rebellions.
On the other hand, NRM struggled to break into the opposition controlled area leading to desperate last minute efforts to rally support.
However, the presence of rebel candidates from both parties complicated the election splitting votes and revealing internal fractures within party structures.
The mass expulsions have sparked heated debates. Some analysts see this as a necessary move to enforce discipline while others view it as a dangerous silencing tactic that discourages political diversity and independent thinking.
Critics argue that Uganda’s political parties operate like rigid cults where questioning leadership or making independent decisions leads to immediate exile.
However, party loyalists insist that without discipline, Ugandan politics would descend into chaos with members switching allegiance at will.
The rebel candidates now face a political dilemma. Having burned bridges with their former parties, they are now politically homeless, with limited options for their future.
Some may choose to join new political formations, while others might align with independent opposition forces. However, their political careers now face an uphill battle, as Uganda’s party-dominated electoral system leaves little room for independents to thrive.
The Kawempe North expulsion saga is more than just a party disciplinary action it is a strong warning to future political rebels. As Uganda inches closer to the 2026 general elections, both NRM and NUP are tightening their grip on party structures ensuring no room for internal conflicts.
