I Can Still Survive Without Them!! MP Ssegona Allegedly Threatens to Leave NUP Amid Claims of Bias in Vetting Process

The National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Election Management Committee (EMC) kicked off the vetting of parliamentary aspirants on September 15, 2025. However, the exercise has already sparked discontent among some contenders, with several warning they could defect to rival political parties if denied the NUP ticket.

Busiro East legislator Medard Ssegona, after undergoing the exercise at the party’s Makerere Kavule headquarters, voiced frustration with how the process was handled. He openly hinted that he might cross over to the Democratic Front (DF) should he fail to secure the NUP nomination.

Ssegona revealed that he became uneasy when asked to present his bank statements, a request he flatly rejected. “I responded to all the questions, but I was troubled when they demanded my financial records. I refused because I suspect this is a tactic to extort money in return for the party card,” he remarked.

The legislator further declared that he would not rally behind any candidate the party chooses over him. “I already hear that the decision has been made against me. Let it be clear—I served Busiro East before joining NUP, and my people will continue to support me. The Democratic Front, started by my brother Mathias Mpuuga, remains an option, and I am certain they will embrace me,” Ssegona asserted.

He also accused the committee of showing favoritism toward his rival, Kyengera Municipality mayor and musician Mathias Walukaga. “Why was Walukaga spared from presenting financial statements, and why was his vetting concluded so quickly? Parliament is not a stage for comedians or Kadongo Kamu singers; it requires capable minds. Replacing a seasoned lawyer with a mere entertainer would be a grave mistake,” he argued.

Walukaga, in response, dismissed Ssegona’s complaints, claiming the MP has been looking for an excuse to defect to the DF. “He has already made up his mind about joining Mpuuga. If he cannot commit to the party, the EMC should not waste the ticket on him,” Walukaga said.

He went on to defend artists in politics, noting that many have performed well, including NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi. “It is not only lawyers who can lead effectively. Parliament has had many lawyers who failed their people, and Ssegona is one of them. Kyagulanyi set a strong example in Kyadondo East, proving that musicians can serve just as effectively, if not better,” Walukaga added.

Meanwhile, the EMC announced that candidate vetting will run until September 21, 2025, at the Makerere Kavule headquarters. The official list of approved nominees will be released afterward. Given the accusations of favoritism and corruption already surrounding the process, the final announcement is expected to stir even more controversy, with some aspirants considering running as independents or joining other political formations.