By Mulengera Reporters
Details have emerged regarding what pushed Makindye East MP Derrick Nyeko to consider bowing out of the 2026 race.
Whereas his departure leaves open the option for his party bosses at Kavule to dump Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende there, in order to pave way for Zahara Luyirika, Nyeko’s exit had more to do with the conclusion he reached that Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya doesn’t like him there, than anything else.
Mulengera News has established that Makindye East had more than 40 councilor slots for the party to fill for 2026 yet only 4 of the newly designated flag bearers were people Nyeko believes he can effectively do the reelection business with.
At first none of his preferred councilor-level aspirants had been given and only four were considered and included on the list at the last minute. This followed the review of the list that had originally been released and published on NUP social media platforms. The four were considered and put on the list only after Nyeko had rang Bobi Wine protesting mistreatment by the Secretary General Rubongoya.
After protesting, only four of the 40 he had originally recommended in his capacity as sitting MP, were considered and given tickets. This made Nyeko to confirm his original fears that he was no longer wanted and it was his conviction that, for unknown reasons, the SG was influencing the EMC decisions against him.
“He got terrified that he was even personally going to be humiliated by being denied the ticket to remain the NUP candidate for Makindye East going into 2026. His decision to bow out was a face-saving act because he believed that Rubongoya was determined to ensure that he doesn’t get the ticket,” says a knowledgeable NUP source who happens to be a close friend to Nyeko. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
