The National Unity Platform (NUP) has released its list of successful parliamentary flag bearers, but uncertainty still hangs over the Mukono District Woman Member of Parliament seat, where contestation remains unresolved.
According to the official results posted on NUP’s social media platforms, the position will undergo further scrutiny after the party’s vetting committee failed to declare a clear flag bearer between incumbent MP Hanipher Nabukeera and challenger Sheilla Amaniyo.
The decision to withhold a final declaration has sparked intense debate within the party’s support base in Mukono, where both women command significant followings.
Nabukeera, who has been in Parliament since 2021 under the NUP ticket, is banking on her incumbency, visibility in the constituency, and track record in legislative work.
On the other hand, Amaniyo—relatively new to NUP—has quickly risen through the party ranks, demonstrating eloquence, grassroots mobilization, and a notable financial capacity to back her campaigns.
Insiders say her ability to bankroll activities, coupled with her active participation in party mobilization drives, has made her a formidable contender.
The vetting committee is now caught between rewarding loyalty and experience, or embracing fresh energy and resource capacity to consolidate NUP’s strength ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Mukono is seen as a strategic battleground for NUP, given its large youth population and its symbolic role in Central Uganda politics.
Party officials privately admit that mishandling the Woman MP seat could risk voter apathy or internal divisions that might benefit the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which is also eyeing gains in the district.
Both Nabukeera and Amanio have appealed for calm among their supporters, insisting they will respect the party’s final verdict.
For now, the Mukono Woman MP race remains one of the most closely watched contests in NUP’s internal primaries—an indicator of the high-stakes battles that lie ahead of the 2026 elections.
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