Iganga, Uganda: The National Unity Platform (NUP) Head of Mobilization for Eastern Uganda, Hon. Andrew Kiiza Kaluya, has urged party members who lost in the ticket races to rally behind successful flag bearers, warning that independents will be deemed as having disowned the party.
Speaking at the Eastern Regional NUP headquarters in Iganga on Sunday, September 01, 2025, Hon. Kaluya said those who decide to stand as independents after losing the party ticket risk destabilizing the unity of NUP.
His remarks followed the decision of Mr. Kitimbo Sumack, who withdrew from the Iganga Mayoral race after losing the NUP ticket to Kongola Nasser.
“As Kitimbo Sumack, I want to tell my supporters and the public that we didn’t get the flag to represent you as the Iganga Municipality Mayor. Because I am loyal to the party, I have decided to withdraw and back the one who got the party ticket,” Kitimbo announced, noting that while he was dissatisfied with the outcome, he could not defy party guidelines.
He added that his loyalty to NUP outweighed personal ambition, warning that running as an independent would only spark divisions among supporters. Kitimbo urged his followers to throw their weight behind Kongola Nasser, the flagbearer.
Hon. Kaluya praised Kitimbo’s “hard but principled decision” and called on other unsuccessful aspirants to emulate him. He stressed the need to prioritize party cohesion over personal ambitions if NUP is to drive political change in Uganda.
“If you have ambitions beyond the position you are vying for, but your priority is to put Uganda right, then there is no need to go independent. Doing so only crashes you against fellow NUP brothers and sisters,” Hon. Kaluya stated.
He pledged to create opportunities for loyal cadres who step aside for the party flag bearers, while also cautioning the victors not to celebrate excessively. “The battle is ahead, and you need each other to succeed,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, aspiring MP for Iganga Municipality, Abed Nasser Mudiobole, who is also seeking the NUP ticket, commended Kitimbo for his maturity and promised to follow the same path if he is not chosen.
“We thank you for this unusual but exemplary decision. To the flag bearer, don’t brag but continue mobilizing support for the party. We want to keep the Mayoral seat under NUP,” Mudiobole said.
The Iganga Mayoral seat is currently held by Bamu Lulenzi, a member of NUP, who has since shifted his political ambitions to contest for the Iganga Municipality MP seat in the 2026 general elections.
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