The National Unity Platform (NUP) has officially handed its flag to Mercy Marion Alupo, clearing her to contest for the Bukedea Woman Member of Parliament seat in a highly contested bid to unseat Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among.

Alupo is a former National Youth League treasurer under the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and one-time Guild Prime Minister at Kyambogo University, who once led the Teso Students Association. Her clearance by NUP now positions her as one of the key opposition challengers in what is expected to be a high-stakes race in Bukedea.

Alupo, is amongst the three Bukedea Woman MP aspirants, namely Hellen Odell Akol and Susan Norma Otai, whose eligibility has recently been contested in court.

The petition, filed by Zipporah Akol, seeks to block their participation on grounds that they are allegedly not registered voters. Notably, Akol is the same person who challenged Hellen Odeke Akol's candidacy in the 2021 elections.

The petition claims that Alupo's name was deleted from the voters' roll in Kotolut Parish, Kidongole Sub-County, Bukedea County Constituency, following a Parish Tribunal decision in May 2025.

However, Alupo has remained defiant, dusk the claims as politically motivated, affirming that her voter registration remains valid with party leaders highlighting that her candidacy reflects the party's commitment to expanding its base in eastern Uganda and fielding credible candidates against entrenched political figures.