As the rift between Mathias Mpuuga, the former leader of opposition and his party, National Unity Platform (NUP) deepens, there is a growing belief that he could be sacked as the party’s deputy president in Buganda.
The party asked Mpuuga to resign after he admitted that he received Shs 500 million as a service award from Parliament but Mpuuga declined.
We understand that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is scheduled to meet this week to resolve the impasse.
Some say if Mpuuga maintains his hard stance, he could lose his position as deputy president. If this happens, it could lead to an internal scramble to replace him.
But who are the prominent NUP politicians in Buganda who could step into Mpuuga’s oversized shoes? We profile some of them.
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Florence Namayanja
The Masaka mayor would make a good deputy president in Buganda.Namayanja (pictured above with Bobi Wine) has served as deputy mayor in Kampala and MP Bukoto East. She is a fighter and is currently said to be at loggerheads with Mpuuga over NUP’s mobilization activities in Masaka. If Bobi Wine appoints her deputy president, he would have rubbed salt into Mpuuga’s wounds. Namayanja hails from Masaka, like Mpuuga.
Betty Nambooze
This could be a long shot but Nambooze is one of the most experienced NUP politicians from Buganda. She has served for long as Mukono Municipality MP and as DP Vice President in Buganda.
She is a good political mobiliser and one of the most articulate. She is also close to the catholic church and Mengo, vital constituencies in Buganda. However, being so independent minded and close to Mpuuga could work against her.
Fred Nyanzi
Although his appointment to the post is highly unlikely, it would not be entirely surprising if Chairman Nyanzi is appointed to deputize his brother in Buganda.
He currently heads the mobilization activities in NUP and is said to have a lot of sway in the party. Some say he is behind Mpuuga’s current woes because the two don’t see eye to eye. Still, appointing him would lead to accusations of nepotism so Bobi Wine will want to avoid this.
Latif Ssebaggala
Latif Ssebagala has stayed loyal to Bobi Wine even when he was denied the party ticket in the 2021 elections. He served as Kawempe North MP for 20 years and as Imam of Parliament for 15 years.
He has a sociable personality and has strong roots in the Muslim community, particularly the Kibuli faction. Some say he would make a good deputy president, others say he lacks charisma and spine.
Joseph Ssewungu
Ssewungu is serving his third term in Parliament having entered the House in 2011 on a DP ticket. The Kalungu West MP has served as DP Whip and has claimed credit for brokering the deal in 2020 that saw several DP Block members join the National Unity Platform.
Like Mpuuga, he hails from the Greater Masaka region which is the bastion of NUP’s support and is a staunch catholic. Some say these credentials are enough to make him NUP’s deputy president in Buganda. In the Bobi Wine Vs Mpuuga duel, Ssewungu has so far indicated that he is on the side of the party president. He was one of the first people to retweet Bobi Wine’s post on Mpuuga’s corruption allegations. When Bobi Wine featured on NTV this week, Ssewungu mobilised his followers on X to tune in.
