In Masaka, voter Abubaker Ssenabulya confronted Democratic Front (DF) President Mathias Mpuuga, questioning his decision not to endorse National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine).
Abubaker Ssenabulya took a swipe at Mpuuga and Bwanika for not endorsing and mobilising for Kyagulanyi for president.
He attended a rally featuring Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, Abed Bwanika, and Juliet Kakande Nakabuye.
Ssenabulya requested the microphone and expressed his displeasure with the DF for not backing the NUP presidential candidate. He said Kyagulanyi is the most suitable challenger against Museveni.
ý”In the last general elections, you walked with NUP and you were categorical for mobilising other opposition candidates to back Kyagulanyi, a direct indication that you trusted him. What is stopping you now from campaigning for him since you did not present a presidential candidate?” he bitterly inquired.
ýýHe said it is not logical for the Democratic Front to remain silent about its presidential candidate as the polling day nears
ýHowever, bitter utterances and demands did not go down well with Abed Bwanika, who, in response, scoffed at NUP leaders and supporters for continuing to blackmail the Democratic Front instead of forging unity among the opposition players.
He castigated the NUP top leadership for promoting hate speech and inciting voters against the Democratic Front. He wondered why they wanted to coerce them to declare support for Kyagulanyi.
Bwanika told the voters in Masaka City to thoroughly assess all opposition presidential candidates and make decisions based on how they comprehend their campaign messages and agenda.
Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba said that their support for Kyagulanyi cannot be won through blackmail or coercion.
He wondered what the NUP supporters had to offer in the pursuit of political transition, apart from hurling insults and demobilising the change-seeking forces.
ýHe observed that for the opposition to defeat President Museveni, it needs an organized front, which he prided himself on doing within his political party.
The NUP leadership and the DF have repeatedly been engaging in altercations, something that has frustrated efforts to build cohesion as the opposition.
ýLast week, the NUP Deputy President in charge of Buganda, also MP for Butambala Constituency, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, while campaigning in Masaka, described the DF as an irrational political party and called upon the electorate to reject its candidates.