KAMPALA. Former Leader of the Opposition Prof. Ogenga Latigo has said he warned Democratic Front (DF) president Mathias Mpuuga ahead of last Thursday’s Election that he risked losing the Nyendo–Mukungwe parliamentary seat if opposition leaders failed to reconcile and work together.
Latigo said he delivered the warning publicly, including during television appearances, urging Mpuuga to pursue dialogue and unity within the opposition.
“I told them they would lose. I even told him on TV that he would lose,” Latigo said. “I advised him to reach out, including to religious leaders, find a mutual understanding and go back to working together.”
Following Mpuuga’s defeat, Latigo described the outcome as unsurprising, reflecting how voters in urban constituencies assess political leadership.
He dismissed claims that Mpuuga’s loss was personal, arguing that performance and cohesion among opposition leaders mattered more than patronage.
“Kampala is not a village constituency where you buy people drinks for support. What matters is how you perform,” Latigo said in an interview with the Nile Post.
He added that when a leader rises from a regional base to a national role such as Leader of the Opposition, their responsibility extends beyond local politics.
“When you move from Buganda to being Leader of the Opposition, your representation is no longer just about the constituency,” he said.
“You are expected to work with other leaders and represent the interests of the whole country.”
Latigo also emphasized that national leadership relies on balancing the interests of communities, towns, and districts, warning that failure to do so can weaken a politician’s standing.
While declining to declare Mpuuga’s political career over, Latigo acknowledged that being outside Parliament for the next five years would limit his influence in parliamentary leadership.
“Parliamentary leadership and politics will continue for the next five years,” he said.
“What happens after that will depend on the changes that emerge, including changes within the NRM. You cannot attribute everything to one small factor.”
Mpuuga, a former Leader of the Opposition and president of the Democratic Front, lost the Nyendo–Mukungwe seat to National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira.
The contest drew national attention following Mpuuga’s fallout with NUP leadership.
The dispute originated from controversy over a parliamentary service award.
In May 2022, Parliament approved Shs1.7 billion as a service award shared among four opposition commissioners, including Mpuuga, who received about Shs400 million.
The disclosure caused internal turmoil within NUP, a party founded on principles of transparency and accountability.
In a letter dated March 27, 2024, NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi suspended Mpuuga from his position as deputy president for the Central Region, citing alleged corruption linked to the award.
The matter was also referred to the party’s Central Executive Committee, triggering broader political fallout.