On Monday, September 29, the National Unity Platform (NUP) released its long-awaited list of candidates who will represent the party in the 2026 general elections.
The NUP list brought both celebration and disappointment as new faces emerged and familiar ones were dropped.
NUP Key Changes and Highlights
Mityana Woman MP: Proscovia Mukisa (Nabbosa) has been awarded the flag, replacing incumbent Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa.
Bukomansimbi Woman MP: Veronica Nanyondo retains her position.
Makindye West: Zahara Luyirika, previously vying for the Kampala Woman MP seat, has been given the Makindye West ticket, replacing Allan Ssewanyana.
Busiro East: Mathias Walukagga clinched the flag, defeating incumbent Medard Lubega Ssegona.
Nansana Municipality: Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa beat musician Big Eye Starboss to win the flag.
Mawokota North: Hillary Kiyaga (Dr. Hilderman) retained the party’s endorsement.
NUP Gomba East: Mary Flavia Namulindwa failed to secure the flag.
Notable Omissions
NUP dropped several high-profile incumbents and aspirants:
Allan Ssewanyana
Medard Ssegona
Aloysius Mukasa
Kazibwe Bashir
Tuff B (Makindye East)
Lubega Obeid Reign (Rubaga South)
New Additions and Retained Candidates
Nakasongola County: Ivan Kyeyune (NTV’s ‘Zungulu’ voice-over artist) earns the flag.
Jinja North: Entertainer Muyonjo Hussein (Swengere) gets the nod.
Kakuuto: Geoffrey Lutaaya retains his ticket.
Other key flagbearers include:
Betty Nambooze – Mukono Municipality
Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro – Nakawa East
John Baptist Nambeshe – Manjiya County
Nina Kankunda – Sembabule Woman MP
Zaake Francis Butebi – Mityana Municipality
Flavia Nabagabe Kalule – Kassanda Woman MP
Muwanga Muhammad Kivumbi – Butambala County
David Lewis Rubongoya – Kampala Central
Aisha Kabanda – Butambala Woman MP
Chairman Nyanzi Fred Ssentamu – Kawempe South
Joel Ssenyonyi – Nakawa West
Shamim Malende – Kampala Woman MP
Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu – Kalungu West
Central Uganda: Flag Bearers by District
Luwero
Woman MP: Brenda Nabukenya
MPs: Ssekabira Denis (Katikamu North), Kirumira Hassan (Katikamu South), Ssekitoleko Robert (Bamunanika)
Nakaseke
Woman MP: Nakwooya Esther
MPs: Allan Mayanja (Central), Kayania Geoffrey (North), Luttamaguzi Semakula Paulson (South)
Nakasongola
Woman MP: Mahoro Sharon Emily
MPs: Kizza Adrian (Budyebo), Ivan Kyeyune (Nakasongola County)
Sembabule
Woman MP: Nina Kankunda
MPs: Namugga Goreth (Mawogola South), Mawanda Muhammed (Mawogola West), Semata Idi (Mawogola North), Tumusiime Isaac (Lwemiyaga)
Lwengo
Woman MP: Nantongo Fortunate Rose
MPs: Kamusime Smith (Bukoto West), Nabalamba Asmat (Bukoto Midwest), Hakim Kizza Sawula (Bukoto South)
Kyotera
Woman MP: Nantongo Fortunate Rose
MPs: Geoffrey Lutaya (Kakuuto), Lukwago Johnpaul Mpalanyi (Kyotera County)
Kalungu
Woman MP: Shakira Namirro Zinga
MPs: Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu (Alonge Paal)
(Note: One entry appears to be corrupted or misspelled and needs verification.)
Rakai
Woman MP: Nalubega Grace
MPs: Kiggundu Eliab Ssango (Kooki), Atwine Abel (Buyamba)
Kalangala
Woman MP: Nakimuli Hellen
MPs: Rajab Ssemakula (Bujumba), Daudi Nkambo Ssenungi (Kyamusa)
Masaka
Woman MP: Namutaawe Joan
MPs: Jamiru Kivumbi (Bukoto Central), Ronald Evans Kanyike (Bukoto East), Nalubowa Rose (TBD)
Masaka City
Woman MP: Veronica Nanyondo
MPs: Patrick Kuteesa (Kimanya Kabonera), Lubowa Ssebina Gyavira (Nyendo Mukungwe)
Bukomansimbi
Woman MP: Nalubega Halima Zalwango
MPs: Nsereko Christopher Kayongo (North), Kayemba Geoffrey Solo (South)
Lyantonde
Woman MP: Marianne Bee Baelhir
MP: Mugenyi Semanda (Kabula)
Mubende
Woman MP: Nannyanzi Hope Ferister
MPs: Nabawanuka Sumayah (Municipality), Ndagiimaana Stephen (Bwekula), Sempira Edward (Bwekula South), Kyagera Peter (Kasambya)
Kyankwanzi
Woman MP: Comfortable Evelyn
MPs: Mande Edward (Ntwetwe), Irumba Alex (Butemba)
Kiboga
Woman MP: Kaaya Christine Nakimwero
MPs: Musoke Michael Trevoss (East), Grace Kakooza Nakyanzi (West)
Mityana
Woman MP: Mukisa Proscovia
MPs: Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga (Busujju), Tomusange Isaac (North), Kintu Freddie Grace (South), Zaake Francis Butebi (Municipality)
Kassanda
Woman MP: Flavia Kalule Nabagabe
MPs: Mutebi Robert (Bukuya), Patrick Nsamba Oshabe (North), Kabuye Frank (South)
Butambala
Woman MP: Aisha Kabanda
MP: Muwanga Muhammad Kivumbi
Gomba
Woman MP: Ssentamu Betty
MPs: Saazi Godfrey (East), Lukwago Gonzaga (West)
Mpigi
Woman MP: To be re-evaluated
MPs: Hillary Kiyaga (Mawokota North), Sseijemba Martin (Mawokota South)
Buvuma
Woman MP: Mugabi Susan
MP: Katamba Philly
Kayunga
Woman MP: Nakwedde Harriet
MPs: Tebandeke Charles (Bbaale), Ssali Frederick Kafeero (Ntenjeru North), Nsanja Patrick (Ntenjeru South)
Buikwe
Woman MP: Nabatanzi Faridah
MPs: Sserubula Stephen (Lugazi), Kanaabi Jimmy (South), Musanje Moses Lukanga (Njeru)
Mukono
Woman MP: Under review
MPs: Abdallah Kiwanuka (North), Robert Maseruka (South), Sulaiman Kiwanuka (Nakifuma), Betty Nambooze Bakireke (Municipality)
Kampala
Woman MP: Shamim Malende
MPs: Elias Luyimbaazi (Kawempe North), Fred Nyanzi (Kawempe South), Alex Mufumbiro (Nakawa East), Joel Ssenyonyi (Nakawa West), Abubakar Kawalya (Lubaga North), Euginia Nassolo (Lubaga South), Zahara Maala Luyirika (Makindye West), Kasirye Nganda Ali (Makindye East), David Rubongoya (Kampala Central)
Wakiso
Woman MP: Betty Ethel Naluyima
MPs: Nabatta Namuli Joyce (Entebbe), Matovu Charles (Busiro South), Walukagga Mathias (Busiro East), Ronald Ssemaganda (Busiro North), Muwadda Nkunyinji (Kyadondo East), David Sserukenya represents Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality, Zambali Bulasio Mukasa represents Nansana Municipality, and George Musisi represents Kira Municipality.
