Who is who on the organizing committee as Mpuuga shuns NUP top bosses for Masaka thanksgiving function

Kampala, (UG):- Uganda’s former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Hon Mathias Mpuuga has in the latest move announced a mega thanksgiving ceremony organized to celebrate his achievements in his political journey thus far.

Mpuuga, who is also the MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe Division in Masaka City did not invite any of the top leaders in his party – National Unity Platform (NUP) but selected only six party MPs, and a whole of DP Bloc members for the function slated to take place on Friday, June 21, at Masaka Diocesan Sports Grounds in Kitovu.

The function, DailyExpress understands, will be graced by Buganda Premier, Katikkiro Charles Peter as the Chief Guest, during which Mr Mpuuga is expected to reveal to his supporters his political ambitions for the nearing 2026 elections after a bitter fallout with his party President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine.

The Chairperson of Mpuuga’s Thanksgiving fete committee, Mr Abed Bwanika (Kimaanya-Kabonera MP) while addressing the media on Wednesday, June 5 in Masaka City said they expect over 20,000 people to attend the event, the first of its kind in the area.

According to Bwanika, a former Presidential candidate, the ceremony is intended to teach the public a culture of celebrating individuals who have diligently served the country when they are still alive.

“We should stop waiting for someone to die and then come up with good messages to pay tribute to him. In all the positions he has served, Mr Mathias Mpuuga has exhibited excellent work which deserves to be celebrated, and also thank God for his life. Indeed, this Thanksgiving ceremony, the first of its kind, is going to set the agenda and also change that narrative,” Mr Bwanika said.

Mr Mpuuga’s close working relationship with six NUP legislators and DP bloc members, according to political analysts, signals a new political front which will likely have Mpuuga as its leader ahead of 2026 general elections.

“That is the team he [Mpuuga] is going to work with to further his political agenda as the 2026 general elections draws closer, just know, Mpuuga’s marriage of political convenience with NUP ended,” Mr Siraje Nsanja, a political scientist, said in an interview with a local publication on Thursday

“Since Mpuuga is co-opting seasoned politicians, he is likely to give Mr Kyagulanyi and the entire NUP a run for their money especially in Buganda here,” he added

The six NUP MPs have in the past five months avoided taking sides in the apparent fallout between NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and Mr Mpuuga and none of them attended the recent mega mobilisation tour in the latter’s backyard in Masaka City on May 31.

DP Bloc members are politicians who defected from Uganda’s oldest political party – the Democratic Party and joined NUP in the run-up to the 2021 general elections. Last week, the group announced that they had terminated their cooperation with NUP.

Notable MPs alongside Bwanika on the organising committee from NUP include Masaka City Woman MP Ms Juliet Kakande (head of finance and resource mobilization), Ms Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa, Mityana Woman MP (communication and publicity), Mr Michael Kakembo, Entebbe Municipality (In charge of Parliament and Local Government guests), Charles Tebandeke, Baale County (deputy finance and resource mobilisation ), Ms Brenda Nabukenya the Luweero District Woman MP (In charge of women) among others.

While politicians in DP Bloc that have joined Mr Mpuuga’s thanksgiving organising committee include; Mr Samuel Lubega, (the 1st deputy, chairperson of the organising committee), Dr Michael Lulume Bayiga, Buikwe South legislator ( 2nd Deputy chairperson), Mr Fred Kayondo, Mukono South legislator (the coordinator of Greater Mukono), and Mr Richard Lumu, the Mityana South legislator ( Greater Mubende among other leaders).

Others on the organising committee are: Mr Moses Kasibante , former Rubaga North legislator ( Kampala Chairman) Mr Erasto Kibirango,the Luweero District chairperson-NUP ( coordinator Greater Luweero), Mr Kasirye Zimula, Kassanda District chairperson ( Coordinator of Greater Mubende), Hajji Muhammad Kateregga , Justice Forum (Jeema) Secretary General (Coordinator for Greater Masaaka and Mr Nyombi Mukiibi, the Kalungu District chairperson -NUP ( Coordinator for Greater Masaka, Mr Fred Nyenje Kayiira, the Bukomansimbi District chairperson -NUP among others.

Mr Mpuuga was formerly a member of DP Bloc before joining NUP where he ascended to the coveted post of Leader of Opposition in Parliament, NUP vice president for Buganda region and currently a Parliamentary Commissioner.

When contacted for a comment on the function, the NUP secretary general Mr Lewis Rubongoya said Mpuuga’s ceremony is a privately organized event to which NUP leadership is not invited.

“It’s a private party and it doesn’t touch the party and I don’t want to comment about it since I have not seen any invitation,” Mr Rubongoya said, adding that he wasn’t aware that party legislators and district chairpersons are part of the organizing committee.