Second NUP Candidate Withdraws From Parliamentary Contest in Sembabule

Idi Ssemata, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party candidate for the Mawogola North parliamentary race, has withdrawn from next year’s general elections. 

He becomes the second NUP candidate to pull out of the race in Sembabule District ahead of the general election slated for January 15.

His withdrawal follows that of Isaac Tumusiime, whom the party had nominated as its flagbearer for the Lwemiyaga County parliamentary seat.

Tumusiime failed to appear for nominations by the Electoral Commission in October and, three days later, announced that he had defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

Ssemata communicated his decision through a public statement and a letter addressed to the NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya. In the letter, he indicates that he withdrew from the race because he is incapable of continuing with the campaigns under prevailing circumstances where democratic values are not respected.

He observes that the political contest in the area is unfair and that his supporters cannot freely exercise their democratic rights, suggesting that they may not have the liberty to choose their leader through an election.

However, when asked whether he had discussed these frustrations with his campaign team and other NUP candidates in the area, as well as his next course of action, Ssemata declined to comment, saying he would respond to all questions at an appropriate time.

His withdrawal leaves the Mawogola County parliamentary contest with four candidates: President Yoweri Museveni’s younger brother, Godfrey Aine Kaguta Sodo of the NRM; Angela Kigonya of the Democratic Party (DP); Moses Lyazi of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF); and John Jet Tumwebaze, who is standing as an independent.

Ibrahim Mpuuga, one of the NUP coordinators in Sembabule District, says the party received news of Ssemata’s withdrawal with shock and that teams on the ground are trying to reach out to him to understand his state of mind.

Ssemata’s decision comes two days ahead of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s scheduled campaign rally in Sembabule District. During NRM campaign mobilisation meetings, prominent party leaders in the area, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Kahamba Kuteesa and the Sembabule NRM Chairperson Major General Phinehansi Katirima, among others, have publicly vowed to eliminate NUP from the area by all means.

Notably, in the 2021 general elections, the NRM suffered a significant setback in Sembabule District after one of the four constituencies fell to the opposition.

Goreth Namugga of NUP won the Mawogola County seat, becoming the first opposition Member of Parliament from the area.