The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, yesterday initiated a month-long campaign aimed at updating the party's membership register. The registration exercise, set to commence tomorrow, will span across the country.
Speaking during the launch at the party headquarters in Makerere, Kavule, Kampala, Mr. Kyagulanyi, who renewed his membership to the party, emphasized the need for registrars to remain vigilant against potential interference from both State and party leaders.
He cautioned them, saying, "You have become official targets of the regime. They will attempt to buy, bribe, and compromise you. But you should know that the regime doesn’t want your support but your credibility, so be very careful because all they want is a picture with you."
Mr. Kyagulanyi further criticized government agencies for their routine attempts to frustrate the party's legitimate campaigns and urged the State to allow smooth Opposition democratic processes.
He warned against immorality and illegal practices, highlighting an incident involving Capt Mike Mukula, the vice-chairperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the eastern region. Mukula was accused of taking the NUP register while welcoming former NUP party members who had defected to the NRM.
"I saw a man that I used to respect, Mike Mukula, doing immoral things. Well, you can buy the person, but you know as a leader that it is immoral and illegal for you to take a registration book of a different political party," Mr. Kyagulanyi stated.
Efforts to reach Capt Mukula for comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
The NUP registration campaign follows shortly after the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party concluded a similar exercise. The NRM spokesperson, Mr. Emmanuel Dombo, claimed that at least 18 million people registered for the party. However, Opposition leaders disputed these figures, alleging that the NRM was attempting to inflate the numbers to justify allegations of election rigging in previous elections.
According to Mr. Lewis Lubongoya, the NUP general secretary, the registration campaign is part of the party’s broader efforts to organize its structures from the grassroots to the top leadership in preparation for the 2026 elections.
"We have witnessed overwhelming support out there, but we have a big duty to bring the party's support together. Well, the 2026 elections are ahead, however, we must keep organized such that even if the elections were tomorrow, we are ready for them," Mr. Lubongoya stated.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr. Joel Ssenyonyi, urged registrars to be good ambassadors of the party and maintain discipline.
The campaign aims to consolidate the party's support base and ensure preparedness for the upcoming elections, fostering a disciplined and well-organized party structure from the grassroots level upwards.
