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By Aggrey Baba
Amid NUP’s sweeping shake-up of parliamentary candidates, two MPs emerged unscathed despite previous ties to the party’s internal rivalries. Hillary Kiyaga (Dr. Hilderman) the Mawokota North MP, and Veronica Nanyondo of Bukomansimbi district, successfully reclaimed their NUP tickets, escaping what some is simply describe as Bobi Wine’s sharp political sword.
Both MPs had previously sided with former NUP deputy president Mathias Mpuuga during the UGX 500m service award controversy, a move that had placed several MPs, including Medard Sseggona, Joyce Bagala, among others, on the chopping block. While Sseggona, Bagala, and others were denied tickets, Kiyaga and Nanyondo managed to navigate the party’s internal vetting process and secure their spots.
Sources say the difference lies in strategy and optics. Kiyaga reportedly issued repeated apologies to party leadership and maintained strong popularity in his constituency, making rhe ragamuffin legislator a viable choice against NRM’s Amelia Kyambadde.
Nanyondo’s reinstatement, meanwhile, was aided by the absence of stronger contenders in Bukomansimbi and her careful distancing from past controversies. Sources close to the party’s Electoral Management Committee (EMC), say NUP assessed alternatives, popularity on the ground, and loyalty gestures. Kiyaga and Nanyondo stood out as politically recoverable.
Their survival highlights Kavule’s balancing act, purging perceived rebels while keeping politically useful members. Observers say it also sends a warning that loyalty, public image, and strategic apologies can safeguard political careers in Kavule, even for those previously aligned with critics.
Dr. Hilderman and Nanyondo’s comeback underscores a key lesson, that in Uganda’s opposition politics, reconciliation can sometimes be as powerful as rebellion. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
