Mayors, MPs seeking 2026 election party flags rush to fulfil NUP fundraising pledges
The fundraising exercise, which started a fortnight ago, seeks to raise over shillings 10 billion to facilitate its candidates in the highly competitive electoral campaign.
NUP supporters lining up to pay their contributions at Makerere Kavule in Kampala. (Photos by Isaac Nuwagaba)
By Isaac Nuwagaba
Journalists @New Vision
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Mayors, councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) seeking to be National Unity Platform (NUP) flag-bearers in the 2026 general election are rushing to fulfil their fundraising pledges.
The fundraising exercise, which started a fortnight ago, seeks to raise over shillings 10 billion to facilitate its candidates in the highly competitive electoral campaign.
Many candidates, who expressed interest in contesting for various positions countywide on the NUP ticket, made public commitments on July 7, this year at Makerere-Kavule head office in Kampala city to fulfil their pledges with little assurance that they might secure party cards.
With the party announcing the vetting of over 7,800 candidates for various positions on July 28, many started thronging Kavule to declare their financial commitments towards financing a ‘protest vote’ campaign with high hopes of ending President Yoweri Museveni’s regime.
“I have come to pay the balance of my shillings two million pledge because I had given out one million when the fundraising drive was launched. This is one of the protest moves to show that NUP has enough social capital to overwhelm President Museveni in 2026,” Kyengera town council mayor Mathias Walukagga said.
Mathias Walukagga, the Kyengera Town Council Mayor receiving a certificate from the NUP fundraising chairperson Ronald Balimwezo at Makerere Kavule.
Now that NUP is out of the Interparty Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), a platform for political parties to engage in dialogue and collaboration with President Museveni’s government, it is us supporters to liberate our country by any means possible, Walukagga, who is also a local musician, insisted.
“I might get a party ticket or not but my contribution goes to the struggle fund, which seeks to facilitate regime change after 39 years of Museveni’s government,” the musician-turned politician added.
With each MP contributing and pledging over shillings 10 million, many who were seeking to represent the party as district Woman MPs contributed only shillings three million each with some fearing to lose both their money and tickets, KCCA councillor Ritah Nakubulwa said.
“Many candidates are still afraid to contribute because of losing party cards after vetting but I have no problem because I contested in 2021 and NUP selected me when I had nothing. Now I have to support it because I have earned some money in the council,” Nakubulwa said.
After contributing shillings one million, Nakubulwa was awarded a two-star certificate by the fundraising chairperson, Eng. Ronald Balimwezo who is also vying for the Kampala Lord Mayor ticket.
Other councillors who rushed to contribute, include Jolly Katunihire contesting for Luwafu parish women councillor who paid 50,000; Wilson Wananda who paid 100,000 and is contesting for Bungokho central market councillor; David Kawuki who paid 100,000 and is contesting as councillor for Kikaaya; and Isaac Jjuuko, a businessman who gave out one million.
Balimwezo plays down ticket connections with fundraising amounts.
Addressing the media at NUP headquarters on July 29, Balimwezo said fundraising is different from securing tickets, which are forcing many to shun the exercise.
“I have heard many say that this money shall go to campaign for party president Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, but it is not true because we want to pay nomination fees for all MPs aspiring countrywide including printing posters for all candidates,” Balimwezo said.
This money shall facilitate all members of the party to carry on with their campaigns in this struggle and we appeal to all Ugandans to engage in this drive, Balimwezo said.
Launching a fundraising drive without releasing the full list of flag-bearers for upcoming elections has left some candidates fearing to contribute and lose their money which they say can lead to corruption in giving out tickets and undermine the party's commitment to serving the people.