Two MPs, one city mayor rejoin DP

Two Members of Parliament have deserted the National Unity Platform (NUP) and rejoined the Democratic Party, which they had abandoned last month.

According to the DP acting secretary-general, Dr Gerald Siranda, Kyotera District Woman MP Robinah Ssentongo and Bukomansimbi district Woman MP Veronica Nanyondo returned nomination forms to the DP headquarters to seek reelection on the party ticket. Siranda said they were also expecting Nanyondo to return the DP form.

Efforts to talk to Nanyondo were futile because her known telephone number was switched off. In an interview with New Vision, Ssentongo said she is still the DP flag-bearer for the Kyotera Woman MP seat.

"It is true I had picked forms from both DP and the People Power movement before it was registered under NUP. I was among those DP legislators who crossed to People Power as a bloc," Ssentongo said.

She added: "It is true I have returned the filled forms to DP headquarters on Balintuma Road. I will contest under the DP ticket; I am still the DP flag-bearer for the Kyotera Woman MP seat," she said.

Politicians aspiring to contest on the DP ticket for various elective positions are currently returning nomination forms to the party headquarters in Mengo, a city suburb.

The Kampala Central division chairperson, Charles Musoke Sserunjogi, yesterday also returned the nomination forms to seek re-election. In 2016, he contested as an independent candidate for the same seat. Sserunjogi said he had joined People Power, but not NUP led by Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine.

A number of politicians have indicated an intention to contest on DP ticket against MPs who defected to NUP last month. These include Mukono mayor George William Kagimu, planning to contest against Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, who joined NUP; Charles Wilson Ggala (DP) seeks to contest for the Busiro East seat against Medard Sseggona (NUP), Alhaji Abdul Farook Sebandeke expects to contest for the Makindye Ssabagabo MP seat on DP ticket, against MP Emmanuel Kigozi Ssempala who also joined NUP.

DP vice-president Fred Mukasa Mbidde seeks to contest for Nyendo Mukungwe. Charles Kabanda (DP), a businessman, is planning to contest for the Masaka Mayor position.

There are reports that Bukoto East MP Florence Namayanja is also interested in the position. Kabanda is the husband of the current Masaka Municipality MP Mary Babirye Kabanda. Last month, 10 MPs announced they had defected from DP to NUP, headed by Kyaddondo East MP Kyagulanyi.

Those who crossed are Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Sseggona, Bukoto East MP Florence Namayanja, Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi, Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu Gonzaga and Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga.

Others are Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, Makindye Ssabagabo MP Emmanuel Ssempala Kigozi, Makindye West MP Allan Ssewayana, Moses Kasibante (Independent) and Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala (independent). MPs who opted to remain in DP include Deogratias Kiyingi, Mary Babirye Kabanda, Lyandro Komakech and Peter Okot.