The Bukomansimbi North parliamentary race has taken a dramatic turn after National Unity Platform (NUP) aspirant Hamidu Sseremba will contest as an independent candidate.
Sseremba's decision follows the party's decision to award its 2026 election ticket to Christopher Kayongo Nsereko Engagga.
Sseremba, who had sought the NUP flag, expressed shock at the party's decision, describing it as "unfair and misguided."
"They have given the card to the wrong person who cannot even secure victory for the party," he told Nile Post in a phone interview.
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He argued that NUP had promised to award the flag to the candidate with the strongest grassroots support.
Having spent eight years mobilizing communities in Bukomansimbi North, Sseremba said he is confident he is the most popular candidate on the ground.
"People here can testify that the person they have given the card to cannot even secure half of my support. The truth is, no one knows him," he said.
Despite his frustration, Sseremba maintained that he remains loyal to NUP and the broader opposition cause. However, he warned that withdrawing would hand the seat to the ruling NRM.
"If I make a mistake and pull out, it will mean giving away Bukomansimbi North to NRM. That cannot happen," he said.
Sseremba has resolved to run as an independent, convinced that his grassroots backing will secure him victory.
"The support I have will go into the ballot box against the one they have given the card. Let us see who wins," he added confidently.
Political analysts say Sseremba's defiance highlights growing rifts within NUP in Bukomansimbi District, where several aspirants, including incumbents like Christine Ndiwalana, were denied party tickets.
Multiple opposition candidates running as independents could fracture support, potentially paving the way for an NRM comeback in the constituency.
As campaigns intensify, Bukomansimbi North is emerging as one of the most unpredictable battlegrounds of the 2026 elections, with opposition unity under the NUP banner facing a serious test.
