Bukoto South Member of Parliament Dr Twaha Kagabo has said he will not renew his contract with the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

He said the ongoing partnership with the party will end in 2026, and that he is not willing to associate with its members beyond that time.

While appearing on Urban TV’s Rush Talk show hosted by Miles Rwamiti on Friday, February 6, 2024, the legislator expressed his disillusionment with NUP's approach, comparing it to "gala football" and asserting that the party is not equipped enough to win in a political "league."

Njeru municipality MP Jimmy Lwanga and Bukoto South MP Twaha Kagabo being welcomed to the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) by flight Capt. Mike Mukuula, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) vice chairperson in charge of Eastern Uganda. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

“I realized NUP’s only objective is to remove President Yoweri Museveni. If it were football, NUP would be playing gala football; one-day matches, but when it comes to a league, they can't stand. NUP is a gala team and can’t win the league,” stated Kagabo. 

Although Kagabo was elected to Parliament on a NUP ticket, he has always indicated that he does not believe in some of the party ideologies.

The Bukoto South MP went on to advise the public to seek an alternative political team that can secure a victory.

His analogy of NUP's political strategy being akin to short-term and sporadic matches rather than a sustained league effort has since raised eyebrows within and outside the political spectrum.

Kagabo further highlighted that the challenges currently faced by NUP were issues he had previously warned about, asserting that his concerns were overlooked, and now, they are affecting the top leadership of the party.

"What's happening in NUP is what I once spoke about, and they took me for granted, and it's now affecting the top leadership," Kagabo said highlighting internal struggles within the party.

Despite being a member of the NUP, Kagabo also revealed his affiliations with the MK movement, now turned Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and his status as an NRM well-wisher.

He clarified that his stance is not opposition but advisory, stating, "I don’t oppose the government but advise it."

His comments raise questions about the internal cohesion and long-term political strategy of the party.

The implications of Kagabo's remarks and his call for the public to consider alternative leadership add an additional layer of complexity to the dynamics within Uganda's political landscape.

As the political discourse unfolds, observers will be keen to see how NUP responds to this critique from within its own ranks and how it might impact the party's trajectory in the future.

In a notable turn of events in 2022, Kagabo grabbed headlines when he personally delivered sh40m to the office of the former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga.

His claim was that the money originated from the residence of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, in Nakasero, for an unspecified activity.

Attributing his actions to the directive of Robert Kyagulanyi, the president of NUP, Kagabo asserted that party MPs who had received such funds were instructed to return them.

President Yoweri Museveni welcoming MP Twaha Kagabo to the National Resistance Movement (NRM). (File/PPU)

However, he later issued an apology to the Speaker, acknowledging that he had unintentionally tarnished the image of the August House by returning the money in question.

Prior to his involvement in the sh40m controversy, Kagabo was a relatively unnoticed backbencher in the House, lacking the visibility enjoyed by more vocal legislators. However, the cash bonanza thrust him into the limelight.

Kagabo further distinguished himself as the sole NUP legislator to defy the resolution of the Shadow cabinet. He chose to attend a parliamentary sitting at Kololo Ceremonial grounds, where the President addressed the House in March of last year.

Explaining his decision to attend the special sitting, Kagabo emphasized his belief that the opposition was no longer reliable. His primary focus, he stated, was to represent the people of Bukoto South in the House, signalling a shift in allegiance away from party lines.

As Kagabo's political journey continues to take turns and twists, his actions have sparked discussions among readers, prompting reflections on the intricate dynamics within the NUP and the broader political landscape in Uganda.