Kampala, Uganda – National Unity Platform (NUP) marks five years since its official unveiling under the iconic Umbrella symbol, a pivotal moment that reshaped Uganda’s political opposition.
The party, led by musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, was launched on July 15, 2020, at the Kamwokya-based headquarters.
Since its transformation from the People Power movement, NUP has grown into Uganda’s largest opposition party, commanding massive support from youth and urban voters disillusioned with NRM government.
“As a young party, we were prone to challenges, but the resilience of our people and the public trust made us stronger,” read a statement from the official NUP social media platforms.
The celebration is not just a party milestone but a symbol of what NUP calls five years of resistance, sacrifice, and people power in the face of political repression.
The leader of opposition in parliament and the spokesperson of NUP, Joel Ssenyonyi, congratulated the party.
“Exactly 5 years ago today, we unveiled the National Unity Platform (NUP) and its new leadership to the Country. We were at our small but cozy headquarters, then at Kamwokya, not too sure of what the future held, but our hopes were high…and so we set off,” Ssenyonyi posted on his official Twitter account.
“The 5 years have been rough and tumble, but they have also seen us do some exploits. Some thought we would not last a year, others even dismissed us completely ab initio, but by God’s grace, we are here today, and we continue to press on. I believe the best days of NUP are not behind us, but ahead of us. Let us keep on keeping on.”
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya took to social media to commemorate the anniversary, calling the journey one of trials and tribulations but also of unshakable resolve.
“Since then, we have never looked back. May we never falter in this journey, and may God hasten our victory,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
National Unity Platform emerged from the grassroots People Power movement, which galvanized Uganda’s youth with promises of unity, generational change, and justice.
Its official launch in 2020 came at a time when public discontent with President Yoweri Museveni’s regime was rising.
In the 2021 general elections, NUP made significant inroads, securing over 60 parliamentary seats and cementing itself as the main opposition force.
Although Bobi Wine contested the presidency and lost under controversial circumstances, his performance sparked both national and international conversations about democracy in Uganda.
The past five years have not been without cost. NUP continues to report cases of arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of its supporters. The party accuses state security forces of targeting dissenters with trumped-up charges and illegal detentions.
“There are comrades whose blood has been shed, others disappeared, and many still rotting in prisons,” the party stated.
Looking ahead, NUP is gearing up for the 2026 general elections with the #ProtestVoteUg2026 campaign, mobilizing at the grassroots and urging citizens to vote for change despite obstacles.
With Uganda’s political climate still heavily polarized, NUP insists its focus is on peaceful democratic transition through civic engagement and electoral participation.
“We are growing stronger and more focused on the liberation goal. The real winners are not quitters,” concluded NUP’s anniversary message.
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