The National Unity Platform’s (NUP) decision to drop Medard Sseggona and Joyce Bagala as flagbearers for the 2026 election was not a big surprise when you look at the bigger picture. While it shocked some supporters and analysts, the move had been brewing for a while due to internal party tensions, personal loyalties, and strategic shifts.
Sseggona, an outspoken lawyer and MP for Busiro East, and Bagala, a former journalist and Woman MP for Mityana, are not just regular politicians. They were outspoken, independent-minded and no pushovers. They joined NUP in 2021, helping the party gain ground in Buganda. But their close ties to Mathias Mpuuga, the former NUP deputy president for Buganda, caused problems.
Mpuuga and NUP’s leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, fell out in 2024 over the controversial Shs 500 million “service award” the former leader of the opposition received as a parliamentary commissioner. Kyagulanyi called it corrupt and removed Mpuuga from his deputy role. Things got worse in 2025 when Kyagulanyi accused Mpuuga of working with the government to harm NUP supporters. Mpuuga denied this, left NUP, and started his own party, the Democratic Front (DF).
Sseggona and Bagala were seen as Mpuuga’s allies. They worked with him for years, even before NUP, and stayed loyal during the feud. Sseggona hosted Mpuuga’s events, and both refused to support a motion to censure him. To NUP’s leadership, this looked like disloyalty. The party wanted candidates who fully supported Kyagulanyi’s vision, not those tied to Mpuuga or who spoke out independently.
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NUP’s Electoral Management Committee (EMC) picked candidates based on grassroots support (60%) and ideas or track record (40%). Sseggona lost to Mathias Walukagga, a popular local musician and mayor for Kyengera, seen as a fresh face to attract young voters. But he lacks Sseggona’s eloquence and brilliance.
Bagala was replaced by Prossy Mukisa Nabbosa, a youth activist who has more rhetoric than substance. The party said it was about “unity and winning,” but many believe it was a way to remove Mpuuga’s allies and assert control.
What’s next for Sseggona and Bagala?
Both can appeal the decision within two days through NUP’s tribunal, but time is short with nominations for MPs set to be held between October 15-16, 2025. Bagala has said she will announce her next course of action but it will not be surprising if she joins Mpuuga’s Democratic Front, where she could run in Mityana, leveraging her strong local support.
To follow Mpuuga or bow to NUP: Joyce Bagala’s dilemma ahead of 2026
On the otherhand, Sseggona might run as an independent in Busiro East, where he’s popular, or join another group like the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), started by Dr Kizza Besigye. Either way, their experience and support make them likely to stay in the race.
For NUP, dropping these two is a bold move. But it risks alienating independent voices and splitting the opposition. If Sseggona and Bagala run separately, they could take votes away from NUP, helping the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) win in their constituencies.
Sseggona and Bagala’s resilience could keep them relevant, but NUP’s choice might weaken its own strength, especially in Buganda. The 2026 elections will show if the party’s gamble pays off or if it pushes away the talent it needs to win.
