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National Unity Platform

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National Unity Platform
Jukwaa la Umoja wa Kitaifa
AbbreviationNUP
LeaderBobi Wine
Secretary-GeneralDavid Lewis Rubongoya
SpokespersonJoel Ssenyonyi
FoundedDecember 2004 (as the National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party)
HeadquartersKamwokya, Kampala, Uganda
IdeologyProgressivism[1]
Constitutionalism
Pro-LGBT
Political positionCentre-left
ColoursRed, white and navy blue
Slogan"People power, Our power"
Parliament of Uganda
57 / 529
Website
nupuganda.org
Politics of Uganda
Constitution
Government
Parliament
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
flag Uganda portal

The National Unity Platform (NUP, Swahili: Jukwaa la Umoja wa Kitaifa),[2] formerly the National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP), is a political party in Uganda led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (also known as Bobi Wine) The NURP was led by Moses Nkonge Kibalama from December 2004 until July 2020. On 14 July 2020, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu assumed leadership of the party and was declared the party flag-bearer for the January 2021 Ugandan presidential elections.[3]

Background

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The NURP was formed in December 2004, headed by Moses Kibalama. For the next 16 years, he served as the president of the party.[3]

In July 2017, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was sworn in as the MP representing Kyaddondo East Constituency in the 10th Parliament (2016-2021). To win that constituency, he beat two seasoned politicians in a by-election: Sitenda Sebalu of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and Apollo Kantinti of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).[4]

While running for the Kyaddondo East seat, Kyagulanyi was shunned by both the DP and FDC political parties, so he ran as an Independent candidate.[5] He adopted the ‘People Power, Our Power’ slogan as his rallying call, leading to what is referred to as the People Power Movement in Uganda.[6][7]

Since the formation of the People Power Movement in 2017, a number of legislators, including members of the ruling National Resistance Movement and opposition Forum for Democratic Change, have allied with People Power.[8]

The People Power movement finally got a legally registered party NURP and changed the name to the National Unity Platform and on 22 July 2020, the founders of NUP,[9] together with leading personalities from the People Power Movement, announced that Kyagulanyi had been elected President of NUP and presidential party flag bearer in the upcoming 2021 national elections.[10][11]

The party is registered with the Uganda Electoral Commission. The party's symbol is an umbrella in red, white and blue surrounded by three circles in red, white and navy blue. The NUP symbol is fully gazetted by the Uganda Electoral Commission[12]  

On 28 July 2020, the party unveiled membership cards that cost only USh1,000 (about USD 0.27 or GBP 0.2), an amount they said did not discriminate against social class and would be affordable to every Ugandan.[13]

On 3 August 2020, the party president announced five members of parliament who crossed that day to the National Unity Platform. These included John Baptist Nambeshe (NRM), Patrick Nsamba (NRM), Francis Zaake (Independent) and Busujju’s legislator David Kalwanga (Independent).[14] On 13 August 2020, sixteen more Members of Parliament, joined the NUP political party, crossing from the Democratic Party (DP). This brought the total number of MPs who have joined Kyagulanyi in NUP, during the first two weeks of August 2020 to twenty one (21).[15]

On 14 January 2021 general elections took place. According to a survey performed by Market Intelligence Group, Bobi Wine had the support of about 59% of the Ugandans.[16][17] On 16 January the Electoral Commission announced, even before all votes were counted, that Bobi Wine received 35.08% of the votes. This announcement was heavily criticized since there are 409 polling stations with a 100% turnout.[18] Many videos of ballot box stuffing turned up.[19][20][21] Other opposition leaders also stated that Bobi Wine had won and Museveni was falsely sworn in.[22] Factchecker organisation Pesacheck published Uganda has not held honest election in over 30 years.[23] On 9 February the European Parliament passed a resolution stating that the elections were violent and neither free nor fair.[24] On 3 August 2021 well-known government critic, blogger, and party supporter Fred Lumbuye disappeared from his home address in Turkey.

Electoral history

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Presidential elections

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Election Party candidate Votes % Result
2021 Bobi Wine 3,631,437 35.08%[25] Lost Red XN
(results contested)[26][27][28][29]

Parliament of Uganda elections

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Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2021 Bobi Wine Constituency 1,347,929 13.48%
58 / 529
 New Increase 2nd Opposition
Women 1,697,425 16.71%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bobi Wine: How an ex-pop star could finally threaten the 'big man syndrome' of African politics". Yahoo! Finance. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Je chama kipya cha Bobi Wine kitaleta ushindani Uganda? - 22.07.2020". DW.COM (in Swahili). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b Nixon Segawa (22 July 2020). "Bobi Wine To Run For Presidency Under National Unity Platform Political Party". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. ^ Job Bwire (11 July 2017). "Bobi Wine Swears In As Kyaddondo East MP". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. ^ Sulaiman Kakaire (29 August 2018). "Bobi Wine: The making of people power". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. ^ Dickens Olewe (6 September 2018). "Bobi Wine: The pop star seeking 'people power'". London: BBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. ^ Patience Akumu (4 October 2018). "With Bobi Wine, people power could finally win in Uganda". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Uganda's People Power Movement Registers a Political Wing Ahead of 2021 General Elections | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Home". people power, our power. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  10. ^ Jason Burke (22 July 2020). "Reggae star Bobi Wine launches new political party in Uganda". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. ^ Derrick Wandera (22 July 2020). "Bobi Wine unveils new political party". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  12. ^ the fast observer (22 July 2020). "Electoral Commission Officially Gazettes NUP umbrella symbol". Kampala: The Fast Observer. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  13. ^ Edge Uganda (28 July 2020). "Bobi Wine unveils NUP membership cards". Kampala: Edge Uganda. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. ^ SoftPower News (3 August 2020). "Five MPS Some From NRM, Mayors Join Bobi Wine's NUP". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  15. ^ Derrick Wandera and Shabiba Nakirigya (14 August 2020). "21 MPs join Bobi Wine". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Rigged" (PDF).
  17. ^ "Kyagulanyi will win elections with over 60% of the votes".
  18. ^ "409 polling stations with 100% turnout".
  19. ^ "Youtube". YouTube.
  20. ^ "Pre-ticking ballots". Facebook.
  21. ^ "Ballot box stuffing". Facebook.
  22. ^ "Gen Muntu admits that Bobi Wine won 2021 polls". Ekyooto Uganda. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Pesacheck". 22 June 2021.
  24. ^ "EU Parliament resolution".
  25. ^ "2021 General Elections". 27 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Uganda's Bobi Wine Urges Protest Against Disputed Vote Results". Bloomberg.com. 22 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Uganda election: Bobi Wine challenges result in court | DW | 01.02.2021". Deutsche Welle.
  28. ^ "Bobi Wine to legally contest Uganda vote, urges non-violence".
  29. ^ "Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine files election challenge in court". February 2021.
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