NUP Intervenes to Quell Tensions Between Luyirika and Malende in Kampala Woman MP Flag-Bearer Battle

NUP Intervenes to Quell Tensions Between Luyirika and Malende in Kampala Woman MP Flag-Bearer Battle

The National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership on Saturday, 16th August 2025, convened an emergency meeting at the party’s headquarters in Kampala to resolve the growing rift between two of its most prominent Kampala-based politicians, Hon. Zahrah Luyirika and Hon. Shamim Malende, both of whom are seeking the party’s ticket for the Kampala Woman Member of Parliament seat in the 2026 general elections.

The meeting was chaired by Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, the party’s Deputy President for the Buganda region, who was mandated to bring the two sides together before the feud spiraled further out of control. Also present were NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, senior members of the party’s Election Management Committee, and the two rival candidates themselves.

For months, tensions between the two politicians and their supporters have been building as both camps intensified their mobilization campaigns across Kampala. The rivalry turned toxic as accusations, propaganda, and intimidation tactics began to dominate the contest. Matters worsened recently during the Masaka High Court bail application for Eddie Mutwe and other detained NUP activists, where supporters of Luyirika and Malende openly clashed, exchanging insults and almost engaging in physical confrontations in front of cameras.

This incident sparked widespread concern among party leaders and the public, with many warning that internal divisions could damage NUP’s credibility in the capital, where it enjoys strong support.

During the closed-door session, Hon. Kivumbi and other senior officials expressed disappointment at the conduct of both camps, emphasizing that the party’s internal democratic processes must be respected. The leadership made it clear that the rivalry was undermining unity and distracting the party from the broader struggle against the ruling establishment.

Both candidates were tasked with immediately reigning in their supporters and ensuring that:

No intimidation, violence, or threats are directed towards rival camps.

Social media wars and propaganda campaigns targeting each other come to an end.

Both aspirants allow the Election Management Committee to independently vet and determine who is most suitable to carry the party flag without interference.

NUP leaders stressed that the Kampala Woman MP seat is of national strategic importance, given the capital’s symbolic and political weight, and therefore required unity and maturity from whoever carries the flag.

After hours of frank discussion, Hon. Luyirika and Hon. Malende agreed to the terms set by the party leadership. In a public show of reconciliation, the two shook hands at the end of the meeting, signaling a commitment to end hostilities and to allow internal structures to determine the flag bearer.

Party Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya praised the gesture, saying it demonstrated the spirit of unity and maturity that NUP expects from all its leaders. He reassured party members and the public that disciplinary measures would be taken against any groups or individuals who continue to fan divisions in violation of the resolutions reached.

The reconciliation is seen as a crucial step in stabilizing NUP’s Kampala structures ahead of the 2026 elections. Political analysts note that Kampala has long been a stronghold for the opposition, and internal disunity could easily hand advantages to the ruling party if left unchecked.

With the matter now temporarily settled, attention turns to the vetting process by the Election Management Committee, which is expected to weigh the candidates’ popularity, track records, and ability to galvanize broad support. The final decision will determine who carries the NUP flag in the high-stakes Kampala Woman MP contest.