Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of Opposition, recently made headlines with his candid interview on CBS’s “Nze Ngabwendaba” segment. Moderated by his advisor Joseph Lukyamuzi, Mpuuga shared his thoughts on the National Unity Platform (NUP) and its leadership, sparking a heated debate about the party’s relevance in Ugandan politics.
Speaking from the US, where he observed the American elections, Mpuuga emphasized that there’s a lot NUP can learn from the experience, but only if the party is led by “sober minds.” He intends to write a report detailing his findings and share it with Ugandans, including the NUP leadership, but doubts they’ll be interested.
“I’ll share my information on the floor of Parliament instead,” he said, confident that the Speaker will allocate him time to discuss the lessons he learned from the US electoral system.
Mpuuga’s comments were laced with sarcasm as he laughed off NUP’s leadership, saying his ability to travel to the US was a slap in their face.
The party had spread fake news about his visa being revoked due to the Shs500m he received under the Service Award and his support for Speaker Anita Among, who faces US and UK travel sanctions over her human rights record.
Mpuuga claimed that American policymakers value him more than Bobi Wine, NUP’s leader, and questioned why NUP hasn’t apologized for lying about his visa status.
“The dictatorship at Kavule must be hurting to see me travel freely to the US,” he said, contrary to the fake news spread by NUP’s foot soldiers.
He also asserted that NUP isn’t as important to American foreign policy as they claim, citing his interactions with US policymakers, legislators, and administration officials, where NUP wasn’t even mentioned.
Mpuuga’s experience in the US has led him to conclude that NUP isn’t a significant factor in American decisions about Uganda. “The politics of Bobi Wine is about grand deception,” he said, wondering why NUP leaders would spread lies about his visa status.
He believes the only truth about Kyagulanyi and fellow NUP leaders is their names, and nothing more.
The exchange has sparked debate about NUP’s role in Ugandan politics and its relationship with the international community. As the country navigates its complex political landscape, it remains to be seen how NUP will respond to Mpuuga’s criticisms and whether they’ll take his report seriously.