The National Unity Platform (NUP) is facing growing criticism after its special committee, appointed to handle complaints arising from its candidate selection process, released the final list of endorsed candidates for Kampala District.
According to an official statement, only 11 complaints from Kampala were resolved in favor of the complainants. The remaining petitions were either dismissed or deemed outside the committee’s limited mandate.
“Please note that the mandate of the Committee is limited to correcting errors and addressing technical issues, as opposed to opinion-based complaints which would require a full hearing. This is due to the limited time available before nominations begin,” the statement clarified.
The party emphasized that only the individuals whose names appear on the released list will receive official NUP endorsement starting September 3, 2025. The committee added that it is working to finalize complaint reviews from other districts and will release additional lists accordingly.
However, the announcement has triggered widespread discontent among party members and supporters, who claim that the process was rushed and lacked fairness. Some complainants allege that cases backed by clear evidence were not given a proper hearing.
“How can you vet candidates in just three days when nominations are only a day away? This feels like a deliberate move to exclude many under the pretense of time constraints,” one party member commented.
On social media, numerous supporters criticized the decision-making process, questioning the competence and transparency of the selection.
Vincent Mayanja posted on X (formerly Twitter): “It is now obvious that NUP is not run as an institution but operates whimsically, just like the NRM. How do you reject previously announced candidates without hearing from them? Some names appear in constituencies they never applied for. This is disappointing.”
Kyanga Joel wrote: “A ticket was handed to a mafia figure with a history of scandals who abandoned voters for five years. Now, they reappear thanks to the so-called ‘decision-makers’ in Jinja. NUP will not win the Jinja Northern Division Mayorship—Sentamu deserved that seat.”
Umar B added: “Some of these candidates can’t even debate on policies or national matters. It’s all just empty politics.”
As the nomination deadline nears, pressure continues to mount on the party to address transparency concerns and restore confidence among its grassroots supporters.
