Busujju County Member of Parliament Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga has called on fellow National Unity Platform (NUP) members to respect and uphold the party's vetting process as the country heads toward the 2026 general elections.

Speaking during NBS Barometer on Tuesday, Kalwanga, who maintained the party flag, emphasised that the party's ticket allocation in 2021 came with the responsibility of safeguarding and nurturing the trust of both the electorate and the party.

"When we received NUP tickets in 2021, we were tasked with nurturing them; this would later determine whether we retain the tickets for 2026 or not," Kalwanga said.

The Busujju legislator further underscored the significance of Busiro South Member of Parliament Medard Lubega Sseggona's participation in the vetting process, arguing that his involvement gives credibility to the exercise and its subsequent outcomes.

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The NUP flag in Busujju was highly contested, with Kalwanga successfully defending the party ticket against a strong lineup of aspirants including Garvin Kasirye, son of the late Gen. Kasirye Ggwanga, Juma Ssennabulya, and Stanley Kayemba. Kalwanga will now face off with his biological brother Saul Nyakana Kalwanga, who is running on the ruling NRM ticket, in what is projected to be one of the most competitive parliamentary races of the 2026 elections.

Kalwanga, who has represented Busujju since 2016, won the 2021 parliamentary race with a commanding 19,174 votes. His closest challenger, NRM's Vincent Nyanzi, secured 10,198 votes, whilst independent candidate Godfrey Kato received 133 votes and DP's Robert Mugambwa trailed with 72 votes.

Spanning 179 villages across the five sub-counties of Malangala, Kakindu, Butayunja, Maanyi, and Banda, Busujju remains a politically vibrant constituency and is expected to draw significant attention during the upcoming elections.