Fred Kiyimba, a councillor from the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) in Mukono, was violently dragged out of his office and beaten by irate party supporters.
The incident underscores the deepening rift within the NUP following the suspension of Mathias Mpuuga, the former Deputy President for Buganda, over a contentious service award.
Kiyimba's apparent crime was attending Mpuuga's Thanksgiving event in Masaka on Friday. Mpuuga, who has been at odds with the party leadership, pocketed Shs500 million as a gratuity for his service, a move the party deems corrupt and immoral.
Despite his suspension, Mpuuga has remained defiant, sparking division within the party ranks.Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene at the Mukono Central Division offices where Kiyimba was ambushed by NUP foot soldiers.
"It was like a scene from a movie," one witness recounted. "They dragged him out and started beating him up right in front of everyone."
Kiyimba, bruised and visibly shaken, claimed the attackers were not genuine party members but infiltrators planted by the state to destabilize NUP.
"There are just three to four people doing all this, and today they have achieved their goal. Someone out there is waiting to pay them for their acts," he asserted angrily.
The attack on Kiyimba highlights the internal strife within NUP, which has been struggling to maintain unity amidst growing factionalism.
Party supporters remain divided over Mpuuga's suspension, with some seeing it as a justified action against corruption, while others believe it to be politically motivated.
NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi condemned the violence but also reiterated the party's stance on Mpuuga’s suspension.
"We do not condone violence of any form within our party. However, the issue of corruption is something we take very seriously. Mpuuga's actions have tainted our party's image, and we must address this head-on," Ssenyonyi stated.
The attack on Kiyimba and the broader controversy surrounding Mpuuga have drawn attention to the challenges facing the NUP as it tries to navigate its role as a leading opposition party.
Political analyst Sarah Mukasa noted,
"The NUP is at a crossroads. How it handles this internal crisis will determine its future credibility and effectiveness as an opposition force."Kiyimba's plight has also sparked concerns about the safety and unity of NUP officials. "If we start attacking each other, we lose sight of our common goal," said one party member, who requested anonymity. "We need to find a way to resolve our differences without resorting to violence."
As the NUP leadership prepares to address the ongoing turmoil, the incident in Mukono serves as a stark reminder of the volatility within political parties.
Kiyimba's bruises and the anger of the supporters reflect a party grappling with internal dissent and external pressures, striving to maintain its integrity and purpose in a challenging political landscape.With tensions high and the stakes even higher, the NUP's next steps will be crucial in determining whether it can overcome these internal conflicts and present a united front to the Ugandan electorate.
