UPDATE: Independent MP Aspirant in Limbo as Party Leader Sets Conditions Amid Candidate Dispute
KAMPALA — Emmanuel Magoola, the independent aspirant for the Busiro East parliamentary seat, finds himself in a political dilemma as he awaits a decisive move from National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, following the disqualification of the party’s flag-bearer.
The situation stems from the recent decision by the Electoral Commission, chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama, to disqualify Muhammad Walukagga on grounds of lacking the requisite academic qualifications. This development has thrown the race open and placed Magoola at the center of intense backroom negotiations.
Insiders reveal that immediately after Walukagga’s disqualification, Magoola was advised by his personal friend and NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, to approach Kyagulanyi. However, a subsequent phone call did not yield the desired support. Kyagulanyi informed Magoola that the party had resolved to challenge Byabakama’s decision in the High Court and that Magoola should await the court’s ruling, expected by the end of next week.
This places Magoola in a difficult position. As previously reported by the Brief post Magoola is a significant financial benefactor of NUP, having facilitated Kyagulanyi with Shs200 million, contributed to the renovation of the party headquarters at Makerere Kavule, and supported children of the party’s political prisoners.
Sources indicate that after missing out on the party flag, which was awarded to Walukagga, Magoola was advised by SG Rubongoya to stay in the race as an independent. Rubongoya reportedly suggested that Walukagga’s candidature was vulnerable to a qualifications challenge—a prediction that has now materialized. Acting on this, Magoola officially launched his campaigns while continuing to plead for Kyagulanyi’s backing.
Complicating his path further, Magoola is also engaged in talks with the disqualified Walukagga. The condition for Walukagga’s potential support, however, is a financial compensation for what he claims is a significant personal investment in his parliamentary bid. Sources close to the negotiations say Magoola is prepared to spend to secure this alliance, believing he commands more grassroots support than his rival, MP Medard Ssegona, who is banking on his political experience and contacts within the government and security apparatus.
The coming week’s court decision will be pivotal. It will determine the official status of Walukagga’s candidacy and, by extension, shape Kyagulanyi’s calculus on whether to officially endorse Magoola or maintain a different party stance. For now, the independent aspirant remains in a costly holding pattern, balancing financial pressures against high political stakes in the run-up to the 2026 elections.
UgandaDecides15Jan2026
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