Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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The National Unity Platform (NUP) has closed its regional office in Busia, raising fresh questions about the strength of the opposition party’s grassroots structures in Bukedi, once regarded as one of its strongest political bases.
Busia has been a key support base for NUP, with party president and 2021 presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, securing significant backing in the district. In the 2021 presidential election, Kyagulanyi defeated the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate in Busia, strengthening the district’s reputation as an NUP stronghold.
The party established its Busia regional office in 2021 to coordinate activities across the seven districts of the wider Bukedi subregion. Nearly five years later, however, the rented premises are locked and deserted.
NUP officials say the closure is temporary and was driven by financial difficulties that made it impossible to sustain the office’s operational costs.
“That was the Bukedi subregion office. It was temporarily closed due to our inability to meet its operational costs, but we remain committed to serving our people whenever needed, even without the office,” said Allan Bwire, NUP publicity secretary in Busia.
But the closure comes at a time when the opposition party is already facing challenges in maintaining its grassroots mobilisation network.
Bwire insists that the party’s support has not disappeared, arguing that fear has forced some supporters to remain silent.
“The political support base at the grassroots is quite huge, but you will not find it because of the fears that have been inflicted on the population,” he said.
Other NUP leaders point to defections, intimidation and alleged interference with local party structures as factors affecting mobilisation. Manyadi Al-Jamal Jayz, the NUP Western Division chairperson, alleged that some grassroots mobilisers had either been threatened or lured away from the party.
"Even at LC1 level, some of our registrars were bought off, others were threatened, and even where we had our candidates, others were intimidated,” Jayz said.
The absence of Kyagulanyi from the country has also sparked debate within the party, with some leaders arguing that his physical presence is crucial to energising supporters.
“His physical presence is political motivation to many,” Bwire said.
Jayz, however, believes NUP should be able to mobilise even without its president physically present.
“Do we need Kyagulanyi to be in Bukedi for us to speak? No. It is about individuals who make the party keep moving. NUP can still perform without the party president,” he said.
Political analysts, meanwhile, caution NUP against assuming that its past electoral success automatically guarantees future support. They argue that the party must rebuild its grassroots structures, strengthen mobilisation and reconsider its approach to political engagement.
Political analyst Peter Ekikina said continued confrontation between the opposition and government could make it harder to address the country’s political challenges.
“There is a need for the party to engage with the current government so that they can agree. But the way things are, it is like fighting. The party in power is fighting, NUP is fighting the party in power. This cannot work,” Ekikina said.
For now, NUP leaders in Bukedi maintain that a locked office does not mean a lost support base. They say they are continuing to mobilise supporters, rebuild local structures and keep the party’s presence alive ahead of future political contests.
The bigger question, however, remains: Can NUP maintain its Bukedi stronghold without the structures and physical presence that once powered its grassroots mobilisation?
Busia has been a key support base for NUP, with party president and 2021 presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, securing significant backing in the district. In the 2021 presidential election, Kyagulanyi defeated the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate in Busia, strengthening the district’s reputation as an NUP stronghold.
The party established its Busia regional office in 2021 to coordinate activities across the seven districts of the wider Bukedi subregion. Nearly five years later, however, the rented premises are locked and deserted.
NUP officials say the closure is temporary and was driven by financial difficulties that made it impossible to sustain the office’s operational costs.
“That was the Bukedi subregion office. It was temporarily closed due to our inability to meet its operational costs, but we remain committed to serving our people whenever needed, even without the office,” said Allan Bwire, NUP publicity secretary in Busia.
But the closure comes at a time when the opposition party is already facing challenges in maintaining its grassroots mobilisation network.
Bwire insists that the party’s support has not disappeared, arguing that fear has forced some supporters to remain silent.
“The political support base at the grassroots is quite huge, but you will not find it because of the fears that have been inflicted on the population,” he said.
Other NUP leaders point to defections, intimidation and alleged interference with local party structures as factors affecting mobilisation. Manyadi Al-Jamal Jayz, the NUP Western Division chairperson, alleged that some grassroots mobilisers had either been threatened or lured away from the party.
"Even at LC1 level, some of our registrars were bought off, others were threatened, and even where we had our candidates, others were intimidated,” Jayz said.
The absence of Kyagulanyi from the country has also sparked debate within the party, with some leaders arguing that his physical presence is crucial to energising supporters.
“His physical presence is political motivation to many,” Bwire said.
Jayz, however, believes NUP should be able to mobilise even without its president physically present.
“Do we need Kyagulanyi to be in Bukedi for us to speak? No. It is about individuals who make the party keep moving. NUP can still perform without the party president,” he said.
Political analysts, meanwhile, caution NUP against assuming that its past electoral success automatically guarantees future support. They argue that the party must rebuild its grassroots structures, strengthen mobilisation and reconsider its approach to political engagement.
Political analyst Peter Ekikina said continued confrontation between the opposition and government could make it harder to address the country’s political challenges.
“There is a need for the party to engage with the current government so that they can agree. But the way things are, it is like fighting. The party in power is fighting, NUP is fighting the party in power. This cannot work,” Ekikina said.
For now, NUP leaders in Bukedi maintain that a locked office does not mean a lost support base. They say they are continuing to mobilise supporters, rebuild local structures and keep the party’s presence alive ahead of future political contests.
The bigger question, however, remains: Can NUP maintain its Bukedi stronghold without the structures and physical presence that once powered its grassroots mobilisation?