KAMPALA – On Sunday 20, the vetting committee of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party released a provisional list for its flag bearers in Kampala and Wakiso who will be vying for various positions at village, parish, municipality and city level.
Most notable was the highly contested slot of the Kampala Mayoral race between Kawempe North incumbent Latif Sebaggala and singer-cum politician Chameleone alias Joseph Mayanja.
According to the NUP provisional lists, Kawempe North Legislator Latif Ssebaggala will be the party flag bearer in the Lord Mayor race, beating Chameleone to it.
Earlier this week, Chameleone vowed to stand for Kampala Lord Mayor even when the party (NUP) denies him a ticket.
While being vetted last week, the singer defended his candidature saying NUP is a platform that is promoting the youths into leadership and he is part of that generation.
“If Bobi Wine and NUP truthfully believe in his generation, then I am the right candidate to be handed the NUP ticket,” Chameleone said.
Sebagala and Chameleone were vetted last week to vie for the highest position in the city which is currently occupied by Mr Erias Lukwago who crossed from the Democratic Party to the Forum for Democratic Change.
It is not yet clear why Chameleone was dropped but sources in the Kamwokya based NUP camp say that the singer-cum-politician was dropped after failing to defend what the committee deemed as a questionable A level credential. The singer also did not have a valid National identity card since he had recently changed his names.
Mayanja reportedly told the vetting team that he had given it to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to change his name, an argument they dint deem solid.
However, in a statement issued by Ms Mercy Walukamba, the NUP Electoral Management Committee chairperson, aggrieved aspirants are free to appeal before closure of business on Sunday.
“All aggrieved persons may lodge appeals to the Election Management Committee by dropping them off at the Central Region office located in Lubaga, Kampala. All appeals must be lodged in by September 20, 2020 at 4pm and must state specific grounds on which the appeal is premised,” she said in a statement that accompanied the provisional list of candidates.
NUP Principal Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu also added to Walukamba’s voice when he re-echoed the same on his social media platforms urging aspirants who may be aggrieved by the outcome to appeal in writing as the appeals will be determined fairly and expeditiously.
Chameloene who had just been unveiled by the Democratic Party and appointed national mobilizer, abandoned the party and joined the NUP wagon, in which he sought to be given the Mayorship flag bearer status.
It is however not yet clear whether the Baliwa singer intends to proceed on the independent ticket or his race comes to an abrupt end since he hasn’t come out yet to give an official communication.
NUP is selecting its flag bearers for the forthcoming general elections through a vetting process.