Bukedea, Uganda: President Museveni has lashed out at the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), accusing the opposition party of “shallow politics” after it allegedly nominated a relative of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among as its flagbearer in the Bukedea Woman MP race.
Speaking to a huge crowd at Emokori Boma Grounds in Bukedea District on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Museveni, the ruling NRM presidential flagbearer, mocked the opposition for what he termed as a “bogus” and “embarrassing” blunder, saying the incident exposed NUP’s lack of seriousness and credibility.
“The girl I took a picture with is a relative of Among,” Museveni said, attracting laughter from the crowd. “She is the one NUP was hoping to stand against Among. This shows how shallow and bogus NUP is.”
The President’s remarks came after he received Florence Asio, the woman candidate NUP had earlier announced as its flagbearer, from Speaker Anita Among during the rally.
Asio’s sudden disappearance on nomination day last month had sparked panic and accusations within NUP ranks, with party leaders initially claiming she had been “kidnapped by the regime.”
However, the situation took a shocking twist when Asio reappeared days later after the nomination deadline, smiling beside Speaker Among and President Museveni, effectively confirming that she would not be contesting.
Her absence automatically led to Among’s unopposed declaration as Bukedea Woman MP, in what many political observers now describe as a major embarrassment for NUP.
Among: “She Was Never NUP”
Addressing the same rally, Speaker Anita Among dismissed NUP’s claims that Asio was ever a member or flagbearer of the opposition party, describing the reports as “fabricated propaganda.” “She has never been in NUP and she is not even a politician,” Among said as she formally introduced Asio to the President. “People just used her name to cause confusion.”
Museveni seized the moment to congratulate Among and other NRM candidates who sailed through unopposed, saying the outcomes reflect public trust in the ruling party’s leadership and service delivery record.
“When people have confidence in you, they don’t waste time voting for experiments. That’s why they chose to return some of our candidates unopposed,” the President said.
NUP Yet to Respond
As of press time, NUP and its president, Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) had not issued an official response to the President’s remarks or clarified how Asio came to be listed as their official flagbearer.
The incident has, however, triggered a wave of public ridicule and debate on social media, with critics accusing the opposition party of poor vetting and internal disorganization.
The blunder, according to political analysts, has not only handed the NRM a public relations victory but also raised questions about NUP’s readiness and capacity to manage national-level campaigns ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Background: How the Bukedea Drama Unfolded
The Bukedea Woman MP contest descended into chaos last week after Florence Asio, announced as NUP’s candidate, failed to show up for nominations. The party’s spokesperson later alleged she had been abducted by state agents.
Days later, Asio resurfaced alongside Speaker Among and later appeared in a photo with President Museveni, declaring publicly that she had never been a member of NUP and was not interested in politics.
The revelation effectively ended NUP’s participation in the Bukedea race, handing Among a walkover victory (for the second time), and fueling speculation that NUP had failed to verify its own candidates.
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