National Unity Platform (NUP) has announced that as a party, they will consider and support those candidates who have been loyal to the party during the struggle.
This has come in when the National Unity Platform is facing the dilemma on who should be endorsed as a flag bearer in a number of constituencies, especially in the central region.
The problem has been aggravated by the defection of what one would describe as political heavy weights such as Mayors and MPs to NUP.
The defectors know that they will automatically be the NUP flag-bearers, however, there are people power “historicals” who are close to Robert Kyagulanyi, the NUP leader and have already shown interest in standing.
Some areas where there is this challenge include; Rubaga north with James Mubiru Moses Kasibante and Abubakar Kawalya who are vying for member of parliament position, Joseph Mayanja aka Jose Chamerion and Latif Ssebagala on Kampala city mayor ship among others.
Earlier today while addressing journalists at NUP secretariat in Kamwokya, Mercy Walukamba the chairperson of People Power National Elections Management Committee noted that as a party they know whoever has supported the party from the beginning and such people will be having the party support because they have shown loyalty.
She says that there are many people who are fighting to be on the NUP ticket yet they are not working hard to support the party.
Walukamba explains that they will also consider other criteria like academic level, citing that to stand as MP or district chairperson is minimum senior six, councilors senior four etc.
Adding that they will also consider the ability to manage the campaigns financially, able to express themselves and they are able to support the party.
However, to some candidates, the criteria of considering the loyalists is not good because there are people who were not with people power from the beginning but they will be able to serve the part once supported.
They argue that it will bring confusion as well since whoever has come up to support the party, no matter at what point, they all love the party.
Patience Nantege Jackie the aspiring member of parliament Kyadondo east on NUP ticked says that the things that should be considered should be based on capability, people person among others, not considering loyalty because they will leave out many people.
Ivan Sentongo who is an aspiring member of parliament of Mukono municipality where the incumbent MP Betty Namboze also is likely to stand on people power ticket, says that if loyalty will be looked at in a broad way, they will get good candidates.
He however notes that if they consider only those people they started with, it will leave out many who are capable and they are willing to help the party achieve its goals.
According to sources from National Unity Platform, NUP is still a young party which cannot carry out party primaries and therefore, it is the party leaders who should decide on who to front as a flag-bearer.
