With just over a year left until the 2026 general elections, National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders have admitted that it will be difficult to unseat Museveni as president.
Eastern region NUP chairman Andrew Kizza Kaluya told some party members that amid “infighting and turmoil” within the main opposition party, it was “almost impossible” to dismiss President Museveni, who has been in power for nearly 40 years. “It's becoming impossible,” he said.
His comments come as the party has endured political changes that threaten its survival, including infighting and suspicions of mistrust among some members.
“Instead of carrying out mobilization, we are spending a lot of time fighting each other and I think that is working in Mr Museveni’s favor,” Kaluya said on Monday.
He said the election by the party executive committee as interim (Busia) district chairman was aimed at promoting health and unity among party members, but it was becoming a daunting task.
“Ever since I was appointed as NUP Interim Chairperson for Busia District, I have been subjected to many attacks and abuses on social media by some people who claim to be members of our party who are bent on divisiveness,” he said. Stated.
He said that the registration of new members and the issuance of party membership cards had been delayed due to infighting among key party members, branding some of his supporters as “moles of the NRM” and raiding the home of a designated registrar. It is reported that party membership cards and lists of party members were confiscated.
Mr Kaluuya is working to secure the release of some party members who were arrested after a fight broke out between rival factions at the Bukedi regional party office in Busia district over the weekend, leaving five supporters hospitalized. He made the statement from Busia Police Station, where he went.
The injured were NUP infantrymen who were guarding the party office ahead of a scheduled meeting when they were attacked by a group of youths brandishing sticks and stones.
George Wafula, a party mobiliser and interim committee member, said a group of “strange young men” armed with sticks and stones arrived at his office and the infantry guarding the office tried to stop them. He said he witnessed it. They physically assaulted anyone they encountered.
In the melee, five infantrymen were seriously injured, the party office was destroyed, and some nearby houses were damaged.
However, the trio of Abdu Musa Were, Mahande Wesonga and Livingstone Barasa Mabachi, who are accused of being behind the chaos, deny mobilizing the youth and say they have a group of boxers at the party office. They blame Wafula, who is said to have placed the order.
Mahande, who is a member of Malachi Municipality in Busia East District, said he was “one of the few elected party leaders” after infantrymen stationed in his office blocked his access to the rally venue. He said a battle had begun.
Mr Were has accused Mr Wafula of starting the fight with the aim of defeating an opponent against him.
Henry Owned, who runs a shop near the NUP office, said his home was damaged during the fighting and said he had earlier seen a group of “strange-looking” men armed with sticks and stones. He said everyone was affected within five minutes. People flooded the NUP office.
Police fired tear gas to disperse the youths and arrested some of the attackers and party supporters in the process.
Bukedi South Regional Police spokesperson Moses Mgwe said police were deployed to the NUP office following a fight between rival factions.
“We intervened and arrested several people who were causing violence at the NUP office,” he said, adding that among the injured were Robert Wafula, Joseph Wandera and Godfrey Manyuru, who were taken to Davani Hospital. He added that two others were admitted to Busia Hospital. Health Center IV.
Mr Wandera, who suffered deep cuts to his head and was bleeding from his ears, said the attackers were “well trained in urban warfare”.
He said the group first engaged in a physical fight and when they realized they were overwhelmed, they used stones and sticks.
Mr Mgwe accused NUP party leaders of convening the meeting without informing the police, which he said was “inappropriate”.
“Even though their meeting was internal and not well attended, it was appropriate for them to call the police because we are there to protect all Ugandans and their property.” he said.
This is not the first time NUP supporters have fought in party offices.
The Busia clashes took place on March 18, 2024, when police fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse a camp of the opposition NUP, which had exchanged heavy blows over the party's mobilization strategy, popularly known as “Kunga Uganda” in Masaka city. It happened after the shots were fired.
Members of the two camps, one led by Masaka Mayor Florence Namayanja and the other aligned with former Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga, who is under pressure, are leading the party in the city. He was called to his office and tried to isolate himself from the seven local councilors. Joined the Patriotic Union of Uganda (PLU).
The PLU describes itself as a pressure group led by its eldest son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who visited the site days before the fighting.
