Mpuuga Challenges Bobi Wine To National Debate: Stop Your Funny Speeches On Burials and Face Me On A Panel

Former Leader of Opposition Hon Mathias Mpuuga has said he is considering running for President, and that this is one of the reasons his enemies are fighting him.

Mpuuga claimed last weekend that the top leadership of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) had become uncomfortable with his leadership potential including for the highest office in the land.

In an interview with Voice of America on Sunday, Mpuuga addressed a question of whether or not he was considering running for president, stating that he was ready to give it a shot once his supporters are aligned.

“This country is looking for leaders in the coming years. It could be 2026 or beyond. They (NUP) know that in the corridors of power, my name is surfacing; those discussing politics and national leadership have my name on the front pages. I am therefore not surprised that their fear is what I could become,” Mpuuga said.

“I assure you that I am capable of being a presidential candidate and even president. When I think that it is time for me to be part of that I will announce it. I am not a lone player, I prefer to make decisions after consultation.”

Meanwhile, Mpuuga challenged NUP President Bobi Wine to a national debate on the internal conflict that saw him removed as Leader of Opposition (LOP) last year.

During the debate, he said he would wish to press Bobi on his claims that he went to President Yoweri Museveni to beg for money.

“Where does Mr Museveni get the money he is dolling out to people? There is no such thing as going to Mr Museveni to get money,” he said

“Bobi Wine knows this very well and I challenge him to a national debate so that he can convince the public that I went to Mr Museveni and got money.”

Mpuuga fell out with the leading opposition party, which accused him of improperly allocating himself as a parliamentary commissioner, Shs 500 million as a “service award.” The NUP attempted to have Mpuuga removed from the commission but was blocked by parliament.

Regarding this accusation, Mpuuga said the money was allocated to him legally and that if he was corrupt as accused, the NUP should have dragged him to courts of law.

During the two and a half years Mpuuga spent as Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Mpuuga had a tense relationship with Kyagulanyi. Individuals close to Kyagulanyi said that Mpuuga used the position to his own advantage at the expense of the party.

There is a strong belief among Kyagulanyi supporters that Mpuuga harbors presidential ambitions.

“Before Bobi appointed him LoP, he had been in parliament for 10 years but had never even served as a deputy chairperson of a committee. He was appointed LoP, but what did he do with it? He undermined the same man who appointed him. Even if it were you, you wouldn’t accept that,” another source told the Observer.

Meanwhile,  Mpuuga has also garnered significant support from Kimanya-Kabonera MP Dr Abed Bwanika. Unlike many MPs aligned with NUP, Bwanika is unafraid to challenge Kyagulanyi and other senior party figures.

Bwanika has openly defended Mpuuga, pledging to oppose anyone who interferes with their objectives. He emphasized that they have invested considerable time in building Mpuuga’s political career and cannot allow it to be undermined by individuals who contribute little.