NUP unveils Florence Asio to challenge Speaker Among for Bukedea Woman MP seat

Kampala, Uganda: The National Unity Platform (NUP) has officially unveiled Florence Asio as its candidate for the Bukedea Woman MP seat, challenging Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who was until recently expected to run unopposed following the controversial deletion of her rivals from the voters’ register.

NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) announced Asio’s candidature on Monday, accusing the Electoral Commission (EC) and courts of being used to “sideline” opposition candidates.

“Anita Among, using the Electoral Commission and the courts, recently had the NUP candidate, the FDC candidate, and an independent candidate removed from the Voters’ Register in order to block them from running against her in Bukedea,” Kyagulanyi said.

The deletions, affecting Mercy Marion Alupo (NUP), Norma Susan Otai (FDC), and Hellen Akol Odeke (Independent), initially left Among without a challenger, sparking outrage among opposition supporters and residents of Bukedea.

“While we filed a court case which is still ongoing, we have this morning unveiled comrade Asio Florence as the National Unity Platform candidate for Bukedea Woman MP,” Kyagulanyi said.
“The people of Bukedea now have an opportunity to choose between an internationally sanctioned thief of public funds and a young, vibrant leader who will speak for them.”

Party insiders describe Asio, a grassroots mobilizer from Kolir Sub-county, as having strong local connections and expected to galvanize NUP’s support base across the district.

Bukedea residents welcomed the announcement, expressing frustration over what they view as politically motivated manipulation of the voter register.

Political observers warn that Bukedea has become a litmus test for the EC’s independence and Uganda’s commitment to competitive democracy. The High Court is expected to hear the case challenging the deletions in the coming days, even as NUP ramps up mobilization for Asio.