Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of Opposition, has sparked controversy with a blunt interview on CBS’s “Nze Ngabwendaba” segment, where he took aim at the leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Speaking from the United States, Mpuuga criticized the party, claiming that NUP’s leadership is undermined by dishonesty and misinformation, especially when it comes to its dealings with Ugandans and international figures.
Mpuuga, who has been observing the American elections, said there are valuable lessons the NUP could learn from the US political system—if only the party was led by “sober minds.”
He revealed that he plans to document his observations in a report, which he intends to share with the Ugandan public and NUP leadership. However, he expressed doubts about whether the party would be open to his insights.
“I’ll present my findings on the floor of Parliament instead,” Mpuuga said, asserting that the Speaker would allocate him time to discuss his conclusions about American democracy.
During the interview, Mpuuga mocked NUP’s leadership, joking that his ability to travel to the US was a “slap in the face” to the party.
He also rebuked NUP for spreading false rumors that his visa had been revoked because of the Shs500 million he received for a Service Award and his support for Speaker Anita Among, who is facing US and UK sanctions over human rights issues.
Mpuuga insisted that American policymakers value him more than NUP’s leader, Bobi Wine, and demanded an apology from the party for spreading lies about his visa status.
“The dictatorship at Kavule must be in pain watching me travel freely to the US,” Mpuuga remarked, referring to NUP’s headquarters, in contrast to the false claims spread by the party’s supporters.
The former opposition leader also dismissed NUP’s claims of relevance in US foreign policy, pointing out that during his discussions with American lawmakers and officials, NUP was never mentioned.
“NUP’s influence on US policy is minimal at best,” Mpuuga said. “The politics of Bobi Wine is all about grand deception.”
In his harsh critique, Mpuuga stated that the only truth about Bobi Wine and other NUP leaders were their names, implying that their political activities were built on falsehoods rather than genuine policy or action.
Mpuuga’s remarks have ignited a wider debate about NUP’s role in Ugandan politics and its relationship with the international community.
As the political climate in Uganda continues to evolve, all eyes will be on how NUP responds to these criticisms and whether they will take Mpuuga’s observations into account.
