In a major shake-up ahead of the 2026 general elections, the National Unity Platform (NUP) has dropped high-profile legislators Joyce Bagala and Medard Lubega Sseggona from its list of parliamentary flagbearers, replacing them with fresh candidates in a bold move aimed at party renewal.
Mityana Woman MP Joyce Bagala, a prominent voice in the NUP caucus, has been replaced by Prossy Mukisa. Bagala, a former journalist and senior editor at Next Media, is believed to have been edged out over her perceived neutrality during internal party tensions between NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi and former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga.
Her refusal to sign the censure motion against Mpuuga and her presence at events he organized despite a general boycott by the party may have weakened her standing with NUP leadership.
In Busiro East, veteran opposition MP Medard Sseggona has been replaced by musician Sir Mathias Walukagga, marking the end of Sseggona’s tenure as NUP’s flagbearer in the constituency.
Sseggona, a seasoned lawyer and one of the party’s most respected figures in Parliament, now joins a growing list of senior politicians excluded from the party’s new parliamentary slate.
The reshuffle also affected Rubaga South MP Aloysius Mukasa, who has been replaced by Nassolo Eugenia.
According to party officials, the changes follow a rigorous vetting process aimed at strengthening NUP’s grassroots appeal and increasing its chances in the upcoming elections.
“This process is about renewal and positioning the party to win. We have to make tough calls,” a senior NUP official told journalists.
The decisions have sparked mixed reactions within party ranks. Supporters of the revamp applaud it as a necessary step toward injecting new energy and appeal into the party’s electoral campaign.
However, critics caution that sidelining experienced legislators like Bagala and Sseggona could undermine NUP’s parliamentary influence.
