NUP Names New Flagbearer for Bukedea Woman MP Seat

The National Unity Platform-NUP has today announced a new flagbearer for the Bukedea district woman Member of Parliament seat. This followed the deregistration of their aspirant Mercy Alupo by the Electoral Commission on the grounds that she is not a resident of the district. 

Alupo was deregistered together with two other prospective candidates on almost similar grounds. Zipporah Akol, voter in Bukedea district sued the three women; Hellen Akello Odeke, Suzan Norma Otai and Marion Mercy Alupo to try and stop them from contesting against the Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among for the Bukedea woman parliamentary seat. 

She accused the three of not originating from the district. Now with the nominations for parliamentary election taking place on Wednesday and Thursday this week across the country, NUP has announced Florence Asio as their new flagbearer. 

Harriet Chemutai, the NUP Election Management Committee chairperson announced Asio today at the party headquarters. Chemutai said that they will not bow to the frustrations that some of their flagbearers have gone through across the country.  For her part, Asio, the new flagbearer said she was ready to carry the party’s flag.    

Alupo the previous flagbearer said although she has been frustrated, this is not going to stop her from fighting for change in Uganda. 

Robert Kyagulanyi the NUP President who is also its flagbearer, castigated the speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among for using underhand methods to frustrate opponents. He said that that whatever Among does, she can’t stop opposition against her. Kyagulanyi thanked Asio for accepting to take on the mantle to challenge Among. He pledged NUP’s full support.    

This is not the first time that Among has tried to stop competition. In the 2021 general election, beside Among, two other candidates had expressed interest in contesting for the woman Member of Parliament for Bukedea district. Of the three candidates, two of them lost the race before it even begun. The two were; Akol Hellen Odeke and the other was Akello Christine Akuru. 

Both candidates were ruled as not having the requisite requirements for nomination as Member of Parliament and hence leaving Among who was then elected deputy speaker and later speaker of parliament to go through unopposed.