KYOTERA.
Two legislators from Uganda’s oldest political party –Democratic Party have defected to National Unity Platform (NUP) as the political atmosphere heats up ahead of next year’s general elections.
Those switching political allegiance include; John Paul Mpalanyi Lukwago, MP for Kyotera County and Fortunate Rose Nantongo, the Woman MP for Kyotera. The duo claim DP , currently led by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has lost direction and vision and can no longer achieve the political aspirations of Ugandans .
“This is something I have been thinking about for several months until I made a final decision to jump ship , it doesn’t make sense to continue supporting a party that doesn’t give hope,” Nantongo said during a ceremony both legislators were unveiled as NUP members in Kyotera Town on April 15 .
Mr Waiswa Mufumbiro, the NUP deputy spokesperson, Masaka City Mayor Ms Florence Namayanja, and Mr Charles Kirumira, the party’s Masaka regional mobiliser, officially welcomed the legislators to NUP .
Lukwago said they have put in a lot to build DP only to be betrayed by the top party leadership. “ However much we loved DP ,we could not do much when the top leaders are pulling in a different direction ,’’ he said
The two legislators crossed to NUP together with a host of DP district councillors .
Mr Mufumbiro said the politicians had the right decision to join what he described as a people-centered movement.” Whenever we get new people joining us we consider it as a plus and we expect a lot from you since you are leaders . Do the mobilisation and we give NRM a run for its money in the coming election,’’ he said
In next year’s general election, Lukwago will tussle it out with state minister for Microfinance Haruna Kasolo who he ousted in 2021 while Nantongo will faceoff with Scola Kalibbala (NRM) ,Ruth Nassali( NUP) and Dorothy Naiga (DP)
Masaka sub region where Kyotera falls is traditionally known as a DP stronghold, given the fact that one of its founders Ben Kiwanuka is a son of the soil.
However, due to unending internal bickering year in year out , the party has since lost its political base in the area and majority of its members are currently associating with NUP.