Kampala, Uganda – National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s leading opposition political party, has today officially commenced its vetting exercise for aspirants vying for parliamentary seats in Kampala’s constituencies ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The exercise, which began early Monday morning at the party’s headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, is expected to run through Friday, August 1, 2025.
The vetting, which kicked off promptly at 8:00 AM, saw aspirants from Lubaga North, Nakawa West, and Kawempe South engage with the NUP Elections Management Committee in a rigorous screening process intended to assess their suitability, integrity, popularity, and alignment with the party’s core values.
According to the Weekly Vetting Program released by NUP, the schedule for the Kampala vetting exercise is as follows Monday, July 28th Lubaga North, Nakawa West, Kawempe South, Tuesday, July 29th Lubaga South, Nakawa West, Kawempe North, Wednesday, July 30th Kawempe, Nakawa, Lubaga, Thursday, July 31th Makindye West, Makindye East, Kampala Central and Friday, August 1st Makindye West, Makindye East, Kampala Central.
NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, who addressed journalists this morning, emphasized that the process is intended to uphold transparency, credibility, and party discipline.
“We are here to serve the people. The vetting process is not a formality; it’s a democratic filter to ensure that we field only the most capable, trusted, and people-oriented candidates,” Rubongoya stated.
However, the process has not been without public concern. Some supporters have voiced fears that popular or well-known community figures might be sidelined during the vetting process in favor of party loyalists.
In response, Rubongoya assured the public that the vetting committee is working independently and objectively, guided by clearly laid down criteria.
“We urge our supporters to trust the process. It’s not about fame; it’s about vision, leadership, accountability, and service. If your favorite is dropped, it will be after careful evaluation not bias,” he added.
The vetting is being conducted by a select panel comprising senior party officials, regional mobilizers, and members of the elections management team. All activities are centralized at the NUP Secretariat in Makerere-Kavule, with strict adherence to time beginning each day at exactly 8:00 AM.
The process is also being closely followed by the media and various civil society actors who view it as a test of NUP’s internal democracy and organizational maturity.
Political observers have praised NUP for leading the way among opposition parties in early preparation and structured candidate selection.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Makerere-Kavule was tense but orderly. Aspirants, many dressed in red, patiently waited for their turn, while a few supporters lingered outside chanting slogans and displaying placards in support of their preferred candidates.
As the week progresses, more high-profile names and incumbents are expected to appear before the vetting panel, particularly from competitive constituencies such as Kampala Central, Kawempe North, and Makindye West, where political battles are expected to be intense.
With just under a year to the national polls, the vetting exercise marks a critical step in NUP’s preparations to consolidate its political stronghold in the capital and challenge the ruling party across the country.
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