The National Unity Platform (NUP) this evening unveiled its long-awaited list of parliamentary flag bearers — and in a shock move, the party has sidelined veteran legislator Medard Lubega Segona in favor of musician-turned-politician Mathias Walukaga, the current Mayor of Kyengera Town Council.
Segona, a seasoned lawyer, three-term legislator, and current chairperson of the influential Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), is one of the most senior figures in the opposition party. His political résumé spans from serving as a Buganda Kingdom minister to playing a key role in the formation of Suubi in 2011, Amama Mbabazi’s Go Forward in 2016, and NUP in 2021. He is also credited as one of the voices that convinced NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) to contest the presidency in 2021.
The decision to drop Segona has stirred speculation within the party. Insiders believe his close ties with embattled former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga may have cost him the ticket. The fallout appears part of a broader purge targeting MPs perceived as disloyal to the current NUP leadership.
Segona now joins a growing list of high-profile figures denied party cards, including Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana and Mityana Woman MP Joyce Bagala.
Walukaga, popularly known as “the king of Kadongo Kamu,” enters the race with a strong grassroots following in Kyengera and a reputation as a cultural icon. His endorsement by NUP is expected to shake up the political dynamics of Busiro East, a constituency Segona has represented since 2011.
The decision underscores deepening rifts inside NUP as it positions itself for 2026, raising questions about whether loyalty to the party’s top leadership now matters more than experience and political capital.
