Former Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala has opened up on why he insisted to run as an independent for the Kawempe mayoral elections in 2026. Sebaggala was denied a ticket by the National Unity Platform (NUP) which settled for the incumbent, Emmanuel Sserunjogi.
Speaking to Bbeg Media, Sebaggala claimed he took the decision after consulting with his supporters.
“After learning I was sidelined during the NUP nominations and denied the party flag upon my return from a work trip in the United States, I consulted my supporters. They unanimously urged me to run as an independent for Kawempe Mayor,” said Sebaggala.
Explaining why he was overlooked for the NUP ticket, Sebaggala, a businessman and educationist-turned-politician, accused NUP chairman Fred Nyanzi, Sserunjogi, and a certain Ssemugooma of sidelining him. He claimed his earlier warnings about malpractices by some party leaders, which he believed tarnished NUP’s image and threatened its future, led to his exclusion [WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW].
Sebaggala reminded NUP members that the party was built on the foundation of older political groups like the DP Bloc, with leaders such as former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, Muwanga Kivumbi, and himself. He argued that sidelining key figures was a grave mistake that could derail the young party’s direction.
He emphasised that losing the party ticket was not a setback for him but stressed that the endorsed candidate should have the qualifications and credibility to lead NUP to victory, rather than merely serving as a symbolic contender. He claimed that 40% of the nomination process was based on party verification, with the remaining 60% determined by grassroots support, where he believed he had a strong advantage. However, he felt his efforts were underestimated.
Despite his grievances, Sebaggala expressed no regret for calling out irregularities in the party’s nomination process, which he alleged was influenced by Nyanzi and others.
Latif Sebaggala was MP for 20 years. Now he’s running for mayor. What does he want?
He urged his colleagues to treat politics as a platform for service delivery, not a job, and reiterated his commitment to contesting for Kawempe’s development. Sebaggala also praised the constitutional provision allowing independents to run, citing examples likeNUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, who won the Kyadondo East seat as an independent, defeating party-backed candidates.
While pledging his continued support for Kyagulanyi’s 2026 presidential bid, he warned the party against allowing tribalism and religion to influence politics.
He noted that Kawempe, a predominantly Muslim area, has historically supported non-Muslim leaders, reflecting its inclusive political culture.
Sebaggala, who will face off against Sserunjogi and candidates from other parties, cautioned NUP to learn from past mistakes in parliamentary nominations to avoid costly errors in the future.
