For a couple of years, there have been claims that some members of the Democratic Party (DP Bloc) are in alliance with the National Unity Platform (NUP). However, this week has unearthed a number of revelations on both parties.
The country’s major opposition party discredited the so-called “DP Bloc” on Thursday, disproving all of its allegations of prior cooperation with the NUP. It should be noted that an organization going by the name of DP-Bloc announced on Wednesday that they were ending their partnership with NUP.
Spearheading this DP faction were former presidential contender Walter Lubega Mukaku and former Makindye East MP Michael Mabikke. They claimed that NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi was displaying autocratic traits, which prevented them from carrying out their intended strategy of bringing about regime change in Uganda.
The enraged members went on to say that the NUP has given up on trying to overthrow the current government and is instead focusing on taking on powerful opposition figures.
“NUP party president is an incompetent leader for the struggle who has failed to transition from music to a real politician who can handle present challenges,” Mabikke attacked.
Mabikke, who left the DP to establish the Social Democratic Party, is not well-known in the NUP, while Lubega was fired from a big NUP position in August 2020 after an infamous argument with Bobi Wine. When the singer turned politician Kyagulanyi Robert chose to run against Apollo Katinti in the 2017 Kyaddondo East by-election, Lubega was among the first politicians to support him and teach him the ropes.
However, given their essentially nonexistent power, it was not shocking when NUP strongly denied having any connection to the DP Bloc or the people in attendance at the press conference.
“For the record, NUP doesn’t and has never had any cooperation with the said group or the individuals at the said event,” the pressure party stated in a statement posted on their official social media accounts.
It follows therefore that you cannot end a non-existent co-operation. You cannot purport to get out of a non-existent marriage.”
The Bobi Wine led party made it clear that individuals who joined the party did so on their own and received membership credentials. It is said by the party that a few of them “ceased to be members when they ran for election as independents or under other political parties.”
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Questions have been raised and political discussions have sparked by the DP Bloc press conference. However, NUP’s robust reply seeks to clear up any misunderstandings about their affiliation with the group.
The party insists that protecting the interests of its members and supporters and advancing its political program continue to be its top priorities.
