The National Unity Platform’s Elections Management Committee has been plagued by sex-related accusations in recent days. People have accused the committee members of requesting financial and sexual favours for some of the candidates who have indicated interest in running for the NUP party cards in various regions. A caller claiming to be Kalule Wycliff allegedly called Hon. Fortumate Nantongo, a female MP from Kyotera district who just switched from the Democratic Party to the NUP, and demanded 200 million Ugandan shillings to provide her the party card and keep her seat in parliament.
People have also questioned how the committee is supposed to be impartial given that some of its members are themselves party card seekers. Fred Nyanzi, Bobi Wine’s older brother and a major determinant on who receives the party card, has been the centre of attention. Some members believe that this entire procedure is unfair, and he has been accused of calling them to leave the contest after they received financial offers from their rivals.
Nyanzi, a multifaceted political failure, has attempted many election positions over the previous 20 years but has not been successful. After losing in Kampala Central in the last elections, he now intends to utilise his position in the party to solicit donations from candidates and secure a seat for himself in Kawempe South.
In a public statement on Wednesday of this week, Bobi Wine Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the party president, verified the accusations and pledged to form an investigation committee to investigate the claims, which the party members have taken extremely seriously. On his X account, @Hillarytaylorvi, also known as Justice Hunter, a diaspora NUP member, wrote: “I don’t trust EMC (elections management committee).” Primaries are where true people power lies, so let’s have them. We watch to see if the established committee will treat the party members fairly.
