By Aggrey Baba
Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, one of the founding members of NUP, who served as the head mobilisation in the early years of the party, has raised concern over what he describes as a calculated plan by forces within the NRM to disorganise NUP from within and take control of the Kawempe South parliamentary seat in the 2026 elections.
Nyanzi, who is also an elder brother to NUP party president Robert Kyagulanyi, is among several candidates who have picked nomination forms from the party to contest for the Kawempe South seat, currently held by Hon. Hajji Bashir Kazibwe.
One of his competitors is Dr. Roy Ssemboga, a fellow opposition figure who has been part of NUP since its formation, but reportedly distanced himself from the party around the time of the 2021 elections.
Although he never formally declared his exit, Ssemboga remained publicly critical of the party leadership. He has since returned and is now seeking to be endorsed as the party’s flag bearer in the upcoming elections.
However, Nyanzi now alleges that Ssemboga is being quietly supported by individuals within the NRM and other political groups whose aim, he says, is not just to interfere with the party’s internal process, but to make it easier for the NRM to reclaim the Kawempe South, a constituecy which is home to NUP headquarters in Kavule.
According to Nyanzi, these forces are pushing for Ssemboga to win the NUP flag, with the expectation that his presence on the ballot as a candidate from NUP would benefit the NRM in the final race.
Nyanzi claims that funding and logistical support being used in Ssemboga’s mobilisation efforts, such as posters, and coordination teams, is being facilitated by people close to Kyadondo, further alleging that a group known as the “ghetto structure,” which he says was originally formed to mobilise urban youth under the NRM, is now active in Kawempe and being used to spread confusion within the NUP stronghold.
He also said that some individuals linked to these groups are disguising as NUP supporters but are reportedly engaging in violent behaviour (including moving around with sharp objects and causing tension in communities) in what he believes is a deliberate plan to paint the Kavule political outfit in a bad light.
Nyanzi added that he has seen evidence suggesting that some of his opponents are using social media accounts and media platforms to attack his reputation and misrepresent NUP’s mission in the area, and he claims to have recordings of conversations where foot soldiers are allegedly being instructed to undermine him and NUP.
While both Nyanzi and Ssemboga are waiting for the party’s internal vetting process to decide who will carry the NUP flag, Nyanzi’s concern goes beyond the party primaries, believing that the bigger goal for the alleged external forces is to influence the 2026 election outcome, using the Kavule flag as a stepping stone. Efforts to reach Dr. Ssemboga for a comment weren’t immediately successful.
