For months, the odds appeared heavily stacked against incumbent MP and State Minister for Lands Persis Namuganza. Powerful figures within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) were widely perceived to have lined up behind her challenger, Emmanuel Maganda, turning the contest into one of the most fiercely watched political battles in Busoga.

At the centre of that contest was the influence of former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among. Her political stature within the NRM, coupled with reports of significant financial backing for Namuganza’s rival, created the impression that the Bukono race had already been decided by forces far bigger than the constituency itself. To many observers, Namuganza appeared isolated, outmatched, and destined for political defeat.

The NRM primaries seemed to validate that view when she lost the party ticket. In Uganda’s political landscape, losing an NRM primary is often regarded as a political death sentence. Many politicians who suffer such defeats quietly withdraw, lacking the resources, structures, and confidence to challenge the party-backed candidate.

Namuganza refused to disappear.

Instead, she took her fight directly to the people of Bukono. She abandoned the comfort of party structures and returned to the voters who had elected her before, asking them to judge her not on endorsements from Kampala, but on her record, accessibility, and years of engagement with the constituency.

It was a bold political gamble.

What followed was a remarkable demonstration of the limits of money and elite influence. Despite facing a candidate believed to enjoy the backing of powerful political actors and substantial financial resources, Namuganza steadily rebuilt momentum on the ground. Village meetings, personal networks, loyal supporters, and years of direct interaction with voters became her campaign machinery.

When the ballots were counted, Bukono delivered a verdict that few in the political establishment expected.

The result was not merely a victory for Namuganza. It was a victory for grassroots politics.

Her comeback showed that political capital accumulated over years cannot always be replaced by campaign spending. Voters may appreciate financial support during elections, but they ultimately remember who stood with them long before campaign season arrived.

Namuganza’s political career has been defined by confrontation, resilience, and an unwillingness to bow to pressure. Throughout her years in public life, she has survived numerous political storms, often emerging stronger than many predicted. Whether one agrees with her style or not, her supporters see her as a leader who fights her own battles and refuses to surrender when confronted by more powerful opponents.

That image of resilience appears to have resonated strongly with voters.

The Bukono result also highlights a broader trend within Uganda’s politics. Increasingly, candidates who believe they have been unfairly pushed aside in party primaries are testing their popularity directly before voters. Some are discovering that party endorsements and establishment support do not always translate into electoral success.

For the NRM, the election serves as a reminder that primary victories are not necessarily the final verdict. Political parties can endorse candidates, powerful individuals can influence campaigns, and money can lubricate political machinery, but voters retain the final say.

The people of Bukono sent a clear message. They were not interested in rubber-stamping the preferences of powerful political actors. They chose the candidate they believed knew them, represented them, and had stood with them through the years.

In the end, Persis Namuganza did not defeat money with more money. She defeated it with resilience, visibility, local networks, and a bond with voters that proved stronger than the influence aligned against her.

For politicians across Uganda, the lesson from Bukono is simple: power can open doors and money can fuel campaigns, but neither is a guaranteed substitute for the trust and loyalty of the people.

In an era where elections are increasingly influenced by financial muscle and political patronage, Bukono has reminded the country that voters can still defy expectations and write their own political story.

The post How Persis Namuganza’s Bukono Win Was a Victory Against Among’s Money and Power appeared first on Daily Secrets.

KAMPALA. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni and commander of the nation’s land forces, escalated his violent rhetoric against opposition leader Bobi Wine on Sunday using the derogatory nickname “Kabobi” to lash the National Unity Platform (NUP) president with crude, militaristic threats.

In a series of social media tirades, Muhoozi vowed to personally assassinate Wine—a former musician turned democracy icon—while mocking him as a “baboon” and a “drug addict.”

The threats, unprecedented in their graphic vulgarity, underscore the regime’s desperation to crush dissent ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections.

Bobi Wine (real name Robert Kyagulanyi), whose NUP party has galvanized youth-led opposition to Museveni’s 39 year rule, has faced relentless state persecution since nearly defeating the president in the violent, fraud-tainted 2021 polls.

“If Kabobi even thinks of causing any chaos in Uganda, I will personally put a bullet in his baboon head! If he EVEN thinks about it!”, Muhoozi posted on X on Sunday.

Muhoozi, long seen as Museveni’s heir apparent, has increasingly positioned himself as the regime’s attack dog, using social media to threaten critics with death. His latest outbursts, however, mark a stark departure from formal political discourse and a breach to Uganda People’s Defence Forces code of conduct.

On Friday, security agents raided NUP offices at Kamwokya and Kavuke taking away official documents. Police said in a statement they acted on information NUP was training militants.

In his series of X posts on Sunday Gen Muhoozi insinuated he was part of the people who raided NUP.

“I entered Kabobi’s office the other day only to find weed and condoms. The guy is an idiot! Now I’m going to his home! If anyone tries to fight we will KILL!”, Gen Muhoozi wrote.

He added; “I am going to utterly crush Kabobi’s balls.”

Muhoozi has often used the term “Kabobi”—a Swahili slang for grilled meat—mocks Wine’s prior music career and paints him as unserious.

Analysts say that Muhoozi’s claims about discovering “weed and condoms” in Wine’s office echo regime propaganda framing the NUP as morally degenerate.

The threats of lethal force align with Uganda’s security tactics: NUP offices have been routinely raided, and over 50 supporters were killed during 2021 election protests.

Wine, a former MP, has survived multiple assassination attempts, torture, and treason charges. His “People Power” movement, symbolized by red berets, continues to be criminalized.

Muhoozi’s threats now signal a dangerous new phase. By framing Wine as a public enemy warranting extrajudicial murder, he tacitly greenlights state violence.

Analysts warn Muhoozi’s rhetoric exposes the regime’s fear of Wine’s enduring influence. With Museveni, 79, reportedly ailing, Muhoozi is likely burnishing his strongman credentials. Yet his crude threats risk alienating international allies; the U.S. recently sanctioned Ugandan officials over human rights abuses.

As Uganda’s political climate hurtles toward crisis, Muhoozi’s vows to “crush Kabobi” signal not just personal animosity, but a regime willing to shed blood to cling to power.

Muhoozi’s rhetoric reveals the regime’s panic over Wine’s unbroken influence, particularly among Uganda’s youth, 80% of whom are under 30. With Museveni, 79, reportedly ailing, Muhoozi is burnishing his strongman credentials.

Wine responds

Wine took screenshots of Gen Muhoozi posts and alluded that dismissing Muhoozi’s threats ignores his illegal military command- the abductions, torture, and raids that prove he acts on them.

Wine rallied  the world to “stop this rogue regime’s madness. Uganda’s crisis cannot be ignored.”

The post Gen Muhoozi says to shoot Bobi Wine personally appeared first on Daily Secrets.

The war of words between National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, and Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga is far from over.

A few hours after the former Leader of the Opposition declined to resign over the controversial 500 million Service Award he got from the Parliamentary Commission, the NUP leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu hit back insisting that Mpuuga was bribed.

“I couldn’t believe that my Deputy President would get involved in a matter of this gravity and not say anything about it- not least, to me,” said Kyagulanyi, adding that, “the moral thing for him to do would be to apologize to the nation and step down from the Parliamentary Commission.”

Kyagulanyi went on, ” The LOP like all MPs earns a salary and allowances. However, on top of that, the LOP also earns extra allowances and gets facilitated by Parliament to enable him or her fulfill the duties of that office. What, then, justifies an extra Service Award for an office which is duly facilitated with a budget for its operations, over and above what ordinary MPs earn?”

Mpuuga on Friday in a statement denied that the sh500 million that he allegedly received as a service award from the Parliamentary Commission was a bribe.

He explained that every decision for the Parliamentary Commission to confer or reward anyone under its charge is subjected to the relevant committee of parliament for legality, feasibility, sustainability, and relevance. In summary, Mpuuga who is currently a member of the Parliamentary Commission insists he did nothing wrong to warrant his resignation.

Mpuuga said if such payments amounted to corruption, all current and previous MPs would be compelled to refund to the public coffers monies paid as gratuity or honoraria since no MP, current and previous was not paid gratuity at the determination of the Parliamentary Commission.

But in the court of public eye, the fact money that Mpuuga received is not provided for under the law, and that fact the former Leaders of the Opposition, Professor Ogenga Latigo, Nathan Nandala Mafaabi, Wafula Ogutu, Winnie Kiiza and Betty Awol Ochan were not awarded raises questions.

The same questions have been raised within his National Unity Platform party. Robert Kyagulanyi said Mpuuga’s statement does not address the real issue of the 500 Million Shillings, and instead indirectly tries to justify this extreme act of immorality and corruption.

NUP President Kyagulanyi outlined on his X formerly Twitter handle ten reasons why he insists that Mathias Mpuuga was bribed. He wondered what Mpuuga offered in exchange for the five hundred million shillings drawn from the public coffers.

“What Did Mpuuga give in exchange?”   

The question of what Mpuuga gave in exchange is part of Kyagulanyi’s argument, as he insists that the 500 million shillings awarded to Mpuuga constitutes corruption—an act he deemed illegal, immoral, and contrary to the values Mpuuga was supposed to uphold in Parliament.

“We all know that a matter involving huge sums of money which is not legislated but a matter of negotiation normally involves GIVE AND TAKE. The people of Uganda would love to know what the Hon. Mpuuga gave in exchange for this big favor” Kyagulanyi asked.

According to Kyagulanyi, as a party that nominated Mpuuga as its Leader of Opposition, they ought to be consulted in the party was not consulted because Mpuuga said it was a matter of personal finance.

“We believed that as a Party that nominated Hon. Mpuuga to the position of Leader of the Opposition, we should have been consulted on a matter of this magnitude. Indeed, I regularly speak with Hon. Mpuuga on most major issues. But I also learned about this matter on social media and initially dismissed it as fake propaganda. I couldn’t believe that my Deputy President would get involved in a matter of this gravity and not say anything about it- not least, to me. When asked why he didn’t discuss this with the Party (or at least the President), he said it was a matter of personal finance! Really?” Kyagulanyi wrote.

Furthermore, Kyagulanyi alleged that the meeting that passed what he described as illegal benefits sat on the 6th of May, 2022, shortly after Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was pushed out of the Commission on 10th March 2022, but Zaake was never considered.

“Although Hon. Zaake was previously a Member of the Parliamentary Commission who lost his seat illegally, he was never considered for the so-called Service Award! Tasked to explain this, Hon. Mpuuga said that they were waiting for the outcome of the court case Hon. Zaake filed. Yet in the first place, the award was supposed to be given regardless of length of tenure! It therefore raises questions about why the Award went only to Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Commissioners and not to Hon. Zaake.”

“It will be remembered that Hon. Zaake’s witch-hunt started the day he started questioning the conduct of the Parliamentary Commission, where he chaired the Audit Committee! He was immediately kicked out for trying to expose whatever rot was going on there.”

Mpuuga noted that there is a deliberate campaign to character assassinate him but he is ready for the worst.

“The campaign to character assassinate me is deliberate and I am perfectly aware. It’s well-orchestrated and well-funded. I am ready for the worst if it takes this sacrifice to return sanity and common sense to our politics.”

Mpuuga has faced several allegations of holding backdoor negotiations with the government, with the most prominent one coming in February last year when he was accused of negotiating the release of two NUP members of parliament, Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya from prison, after a year and a half year there. But Mpuuga flatly rejected any talks with the government.

NUP LEADER’S STATEMENT IN FULL

10 REASONS WHY THE 500 MILLION SHILLINGS TO HON. MATHIAS MPUUGA WAS AN ACT OF CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF OFFICE

Facts:

On 6th May, 2022 there was a meeting of the Parliamentary Commission attended by Ms. Anitah Among, Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Commissioners of Parliament. This was two months after Hon. Zaake was illegally removed from that position. In that meeting, these leaders awarded themselves a collective amount of 1.7 billion shillings. Hon. Mpuuga was allocated 500 million shillings, while the three others were each awarded 400 million shillings. It was not until the minutes of the Parliamentary Commission were ‘leaked’ to the public almost two years later, that we all got to know about this.

Upon return to the country, I convened an urgent meeting of senior leaders of the Party who included all Deputy Presidents, the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, the current Leader of the Opposition, the National Treasurer, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi and Hon. Betty Nambooze. (Also invited was Hon. Medard Sseggona, who unfortunately was not able to attend.) In the presence of these leaders, Hon. Mpuuga admitted that the leaked minutes were genuine. He admitted that it was wrong and immoral and apologized for the same. He regretted his actions and categorically stated that in hindsight, he should never have involved himself in such.

He was strongly advised to step down from the Commission in public interest because that is what leaders do. He requested for some time to consult with and prepare his family and other stakeholders, which we agreed to, because it was only fair.

When the one day agreed upon passed and following several reminders, we decided to issue a public statement on the matter because it is indeed a public matter for which the people of Uganda expected answers. It is their money we are talking about! Before that, I personally kept in touch with him and implored him to do the moral thing, in order to save his image and that of the Party.

Unfortunately, following our public statement, Hon. Mpuuga has now released a statement apparently moving away from his earlier position and apology. His statement does not address the real issue of the 500 Million Shillings, and instead indirectly tries to justify this extreme act of immorality and corruption.

I have noted that some people do not have the full context of this matter, hence the need for this clarification.

Here are 10 reasons why this money-heist was illegal, immoral and wrong- and totally unexpected from a person we delegated to represent our values in Parliament, and lead the charge against corruption and misuse of public resources.

1. As all former Leaders of the Opposition have confirmed, none of them ever received a ‘Service Award’. What was special about the service of Hon. Mpuuga to warrant a Service Award that was never given to his predecessors? Secondly, even if Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Parliamentary Commissioners had done anything exceptional, would it be up to them to sit and award themselves for a job well done? I mean, it defeats basic logic for anyone to say they are awarding themselves- moreover with hundreds of millions of tax payers’ money. Does that mean that every public servant should now sit in his office and allocate some money to themselves for feeling good about themselves and the work they do?

2. In the widely shared minutes of the Parliamentary Commission, it was clearly indicated that the said money was ‘person to holder’- meaning that it would not extend to any of the former or subsequent Leaders of the Opposition. They would be the first and last to receive this money. In our meeting with Hon. Mpuuga, he stated that the reasoning here was that every incoming LOP should negotiate his or her own ‘Service Award’. Really? We asked, “What if the next LOP negotiates for 10 billion shillings of tax payers’ money as his or her Service Award? How would we explain this?”

3. Conflict of Interest. Except under special circumstances, a leader is not expected to take part in a discussion involving self enrichment on his or her part. Section 9(1) of the Leadership Code Act (2002) provides that “A leader shall not participate in the deliberations of a public body or boardor council or commission or committee, of which he or she is a member at anymeeting at which any matter in which he or she has a personal interest is to bediscussed.” This law provides that where this provision is violated, the leader must cease to be a member of that public body or Commission and make good the loss caused to the public.

This is intended to prevent abuse and to ensure that decisions are arrived at objectively and legally. If Hon. Mpuuga had excused himself from a discussion regarding these personal monetary benefits, it would perhaps mitigate the problem. But we are confronted with a situation where the LOP and three other NRM Commissioners sat and allocated themselves hundreds of millions of tax payers’ money without shame! They themselves determined how much they deserved! How can anyone justify this?

4. The minutes of that particular meeting state that the 500 Million Shillings would be paid to Hon. Mpuuga regardless of length of tenure- meaning that even if he was to serve for only 1 year, he would receive this exact amount. Those likening it to gratuity are therefore wrong, because gratuity is calculated on the basis of how long a person serves in a particular office. In any case, gratuity is paid to someone at the end of their term of office and not during their term. Gratuity must ideally also come in the letter of appointment as one of the entitlements of an office. In this case, the discussion of the ‘Service Award’ came mid-term.

Relatedly, would it be moral for the LOP and other Commissioners to earn their gratuities as MPs and also award themselves ‘Service Awards’ at the same time? And the tax payer is expected to shoulder both burdens?

5. Legality. There is no law which provides for a ‘Service Award’ to a Leader of the Opposition and other Parliamentary Commissioners. Although some regime apologists have tried to liken the LOP to other leaders such as the Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Speaker and Prime Minister, the Administration of Parliament Act specifically provides for their benefits upon retirement. Although we believe that some of these benefits are also excessive and immoral for a poor country like Uganda, at least there is a law under which those payments are made. On the other hand, the so-called “Service Award” was an extreme case of greed not rooted under any law. The citizens of Uganda would want to know where that money came from. We are speaking of a collective amount of 1.7 billion shillings! Under what vote was this money spent? Because Parliament, like every other Institution, must spend in accordance with the approved budget. In addition, the law provides that the LOP is at the same level as a Cabinet Minister and no Cabinet Minister is entitled to a Service Award during or after their term of office.

Very importantly, the Supreme Court of Uganda in 2019 (Parliamentary Commission versus Wilson Mwesigye) held that the Parliamentary Commission does not have the power to impose any charge on the consolidated fund in the absence of a Bill or motion generated by the Executive arm of government. The Court went as far as saying that it is illegal for MPs to increase their salaries and emoluments without such a Bill or motion. In this particular case, Anita Among, sat together with Hon. Mpuuga and three NRM Commissioners, and awarded themselves 1.7 billion shillings off the consolidated fund in which Uganda’s tax payers keep their money! The two representatives of the Executive, i.e. the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance were not in attendance. (Not to say that their attendance would take away the other illegalities and immorality). So it was clearly illegal and criminal.

6. The LOP like all MPs earns a salary and allowances. However, on top of that, the LOP also earns extra allowances and gets facilitated by Parliament to enable him or her fulfill the duties of that office. What, then, justifies an extra Service Award for an office which is duly facilitated with a budget for its operations, over and above what ordinary MPs earn?

7. The meeting which passed these illegal benefits sat on the 6th of May, 2022, shortly after Hon. Francis
@ZaakeFrancis
was illegally pushed out of the Commission on 10th March 2022. Although Hon. Zaake was previously a Member of the Parliamentary Commission who lost his seat illegally, he was never considered for the so-called Service Award! Tasked to explain this, Hon. Mpuuga said that they were waiting for the outcome of the court case Hon. Zaake filed. Yet in the first place, the award was supposed to be given regardless of length of tenure! It therefore raises questions why the Award went only to Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Commissioners and not to Hon. Zaake. It will be remembered that Hon. Zaake’s witch-hunt started the day he started questioning the conduct of the Parliamentary Commission, where he chaired the Audit Committee! He was immediately kicked out for trying to expose whatever rot was going on there.

8. We, the people of Uganda, have regularly called out the Museveni regime on its excessive expenditure. The NUP manifesto for 2021 clearly castigated the regime for nugatory expenditure. We pledged that once we take over government, we would substantially cut down the cost of public administration and invest more in public services especially healthcare and education. We pledged to run a lean and efficient government and cut down all forms of wasteful expenditure.

In 2017, the people of Uganda, including Hon. Mpuuga, collectively and unequivocally condemned Museveni’s handshake of 6 billion shillings to 42 government officials who participated in an arbitration in London. The regime then described it as a service award to those officials, and claimed the reason was because they saved the government more than 2.4 trillion shillings.

Even then, we all condemned that payment because government officials are paid for the work they do. The select Committee of Parliament which probed the matter concluded that the officials should refund the money because it was irregular. Parliament directed the officials to refund the money and called on the IGG to investigate the heist. As always, Gen. Museveni defied Parliament, defended the illegal payment and the debate ended there.

So, why was it right for us to attack regime officials for this irregular payment even when they tried to justify it, and not now when there is no single justification whatsoever?

9. We believed that as a Party that nominated Hon. Mpuuga to the position of Leader of the Opposition, we should have been consulted on a matter of this magnitude. Indeed, I regularly speak with Hon. Mpuuga on most major issues. But I also learnt about this matter on social media and initially dismissed it as fake propaganda. I couldn’t believe that my Deputy President would get involved in a matter of this gravity and not say anything about it- not least, to me. When asked why he didn’t discuss this with the Party (or at least the President), he said it was a matter of personal finance! Really?

10. We all know that a matter involving huge sums of money and is not legislated but a matter of negotiation normally involves GIVE AND TAKE. The people of Uganda would love to know what the Hon. Mpuuga gave in exchange for this big favor!

For these reasons, we believe that this was an extreme act of corruption which Hon. Mpuuga admitted initially and apologized for! It is on record. It was both illegal and immoral, no matter how many heavy words are used to justify it.The moral thing for him to do would be to apologize to the nation and step down from the Parliamentary Commission. That remains his choice.

The post NUP leader Kyagulanyi explains tough stand on Mpuuga appeared first on Daily Secrets.

The NUP secretariat released a statement on Thursday evening, calling for Mpuuga’s immediate resignation. The party accused him of being culpable of corruption and abuse of office when he accepted a Service Award of 500 million Shillings from the Parliamentary Commission.

The statement indicates that acting on public rage, the Party President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu convened a meeting of senior party leaders, who unanimously indicted Mpuuga for corruption and abuse of office in violation of the party’s values of; discipline, reliability, inclusiveness, integrity, patriotism ad service.

However,  NUP leaders in Masaka are now demanding a public apology and immediate withdrawal of the statement, which they describe as ridiculous and unreasonable.

In a statement read by Charles Mary Mbanga, the Chairperson of Masaka NUP Elders Council, the leaders accuse the Party President of acting on falsehoods perpetrated by a clique of individuals that deliberately misrepresent facts to malign Mpuuga over selfish interests.

According to him, the 500 million Shillings service award was allocated to Mpuuga as his honorary gratuity, which is formally determined by the Parliamentary Commission, wondering why the party misconstrued it as corruption.

Mbanga accuses the NUP Party President of condoning indiscipline among some cliques in the party, which are now turning up to blackmail and scatter whoever attempts to call them to order.

The leaders say that their President has recently encircled himself with a few selfish individuals, some members of his family, who have specialised in belittling and undermining leaders they perceive as capable of taking over from Kyagulagunyi.

Meanwhile, Mpuuga also described the accusations and demands for him to step down as malicious and speculative. He described the ongoing debate as a deliberate and well-orchestrated campaign to character-assassinate him.

“I am ready for the worst if it takes this sacrifice to return sanity and common sense to our politics. I am available as ever to help this young party rid of any form of corruption from its rank and file and especially that ingrained at the base of the party. I accordingly decline the cowardly call on me to resign as a parliamentary Commissioner, based on spite, envy and deliberate misrepresentation,” he indicates.

However, while speaking at a meeting of NUP leaders from Wakiso district on Friday at the Party Headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu insisted that Mpuuga owes the party and the public an apology for the abuse of taxpayers’ money.

The post Masaka NUP leaders slam party President over Mpuuga’s service award appeared first on Daily Secrets.