WAKISO, Uganda — Busiro East Member of Parliament (MP) Medard Sseggona, a prominent lawyer and veteran opposition defender, has announced his departure from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and confirmed plans to seek re-election as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2026 General Elections.
The decision follows the NUP, led by Robert Kyagulanyi, granting its official party ticket for the Busiro East seat to popular Kadongo Kamu musician Mathias Walukaga earlier this week.
Speaking from his home in Buddo, the 51-year-old Sseggona stated on Wednesday that his move came after extensive consultations with his core supporters, who unanimously urged him to defy what they condemned as an “unfair” party process.
“The party has its job and the people have theirs. I expect the people to do their job. It is the people who should decide for the party, not the party deciding for them,” Sseggona asserted. He emphasized that he was now “returning to the people” so they could elect him directly.
Accusations of favouritism and political miscalculation
The MP’s supporters, present at the meeting, were highly vocal in their discontent, accusing the NUP leadership of sidelining Sseggona despite his substantial service to the opposition cause.
Several supporters highlighted his role as a consistent and dependable defender of opposition activists, noting his pro bono legal representation in numerous court cases.
One supporter, clearly illustrating the local split between party and personality, declared: “Bobi is our president, but for MP, it is Sseggona.”
Others criticized the NUP’s selection process, alleging that party cards were handed to favourites while loyal, long-serving cadres were ignored.
“The NUP we know is one where we have a say,” one supporter complained, warning that the current selection methodology risks alienating dedicated grassroots members.
Sseggona himself deepened the political schism, arguing that the manner in which the NUP denied him the party card was deliberately designed to “humiliate the Baganda people and weaken them in Parliament,” a political consequence he claimed would ultimately only benefit the ruling government.
The attack on ‘political comedy’
In an apparent, yet unstated, critique of Walukaga, the musician who secured the NUP flag, Sseggona issued a stark caution against trivializing the role of a legislator.
“Do not send to Parliament people who cannot debate or understand issues. Leadership is not a joke,” he warned voters, urging them against reducing serious politics to “comedy.”
Also Read: Bobi Wine’s NUP unveils tentative parliamentary candidates list ahead of 2026 elections
Despite his separation from the party structure, Sseggona maintained his commitment to the overall opposition goal. He pledged never to align with any forces that seek to entrench President Museveni’s rule, while simultaneously distancing himself from any group that might sabotage Kyagulanyi’s presidential ambitions.
Lamenting the party’s handling of the process, Sseggona used a powerful metaphor, likening NUP to a compromised political vehicle: “When it rains, water leaks through.”
He concluded by announcing that his next political chapter is now underway, with plans to hold constituency conventions at parish and sub-county levels before unveiling his manifesto and campaign symbol for his independent bid.
He vowed that his focus remains on defending his parliamentary seat and “helping the people understand the truth.”
