Mawokota North MP Hillary Kiyaga, better known as Dr Hilderman, has stated that he will not contest in the 2026 elections if he does not secure the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket.
Dr Hilderman, who transitioned from being a musician to a politician won the Mawokota North seat in the 2021 general elections as an NUP candidate, defeating the then-incumbent, Amelia Kyambadde.
However, there have been concerns about his ability to secure the NUP nomination for the next election, especially given his past association with NUP’s rival, Mathias Mpuuga.
In an interview on Sanyuka Television on Tuesday, Hilderman confirmed his loyalty to NUP, stating that if he does not receive the party’s ticket, he will not be a candidate in 2026.
“If I don’t get the NUP ticket, I won’t be on the ballot. But I’ll continue supporting the party’s activities as expected, because I believe in NUP’s vision and direction,” he stated.
He further emphasized that obtaining the NUP ticket was not his primary concern at the moment. Instead, his focus is on supporting NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) in his presidential bid for the upcoming election.
“The ticket is not my priority right now. My priority is to help Kyagulanyi win the presidency. I understand the party’s vision and respect its constitution. I can’t come on TV and claim that I’m certain to get the NUP ticket,” Dr. Hilderman explained.
His relationship with NUP became more complicated last year when he remained silent about corruption allegations involving fellow legislator Mathias Mpuuga. Mpuuga faced backlash for receiving a controversial Shs500 million service award in 2022, prompting a censure motion by some MPs.
Despite being urged to speak out or join the critics, Dr Hilderman chose not to comment. He later explained that his silence was due to his deep respect for Mpuuga as a fellow Catholic and mentor, a position that did not sit well with some NUP supporters.
“I struggled to take a stance on Mpuuga because of our shared faith and background. He has been a mentor to me. How could I judge him?” Dr Hilderman said in June of last year.
Since then, he has been noticeably absent from NUP events, leading to speculation that he might lose the NUP ticket for the 2026 elections.
