The National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership, led by Buganda Deputy President Muwanga Kivumbi, has called on rival candidates current Kampala Woman MP, Shamim Malende and the KCCA council speaker Zahara Luyirika who is also contesting for the Kampala Woman MP seat to maintain a peaceful and respectful campaign, warning that failure to do so could result in disqualification.
Kivumbi made the remarks on 16th August, 2025, while addressing the media at the party headquarters in Makerere Kavule. He urged supporters of Malende and Luyirika to start being civil, stop hostilities and uphold party unity.
“Today, I as the NUP deputy President for Buganda, together with the Secretary General and the NUP EMC chairperson, met with the two candidates and warned them about running a civil and healthy campaign,” Kivumbi said.
“We also cautioned them to call upon their supporters to stop fighting and harassing each other.”
He added that any candidate who fails to comply with the resolutions agreed upon during today’s meeting whether Malende, Luyirika, or others engaging in uncivil conduct risks disqualification.
“The NUP EMC has the authority to disqualify these two candidates and make a fresh call for expression of interest and have these two replaced should this bickering continue,” Kivumbi warned.
In her response, the Kampala Woman MP urged her supporters to remain calm, stay committed to the cause, and refrain from attacking her opponent’s supporters, emphasizing that they are all members of the same party.
“We have agreed that as the vetting process goes on, let all our supporters not engage offensively with my competitor’s supporters,” Malende said.
“I also ask the media to report fairly about these campaigns so that people can be able to see and choose wisely who the best candidate for the party is.”
Similarly, Luyirika called on all supporters to avoid harassment and blackmail.
“We are all leaders and members of the NUP and we need to put our party first before anything and we ask all our supporters to campaign and support our different candidates without abusing each other,” Luyirika stated.
The EMC chairperson, Harriet Chemutai, who was also part of the meeting, sounded a strong warning not only to the Kampala women MP contestants but also to other party members who continue to play politics of malice and division.
“This meeting is not just for Malende and Zahrah, but for all NUP party members and supporters, Chemutai warned.
“Any candidate found engaging in malicious politics or mudslinging will be disqualified from the race, and this may also prevent them from receiving a party card, as none have been issued yet,” she added.
With NUP yet to announce the different party flag bearers, competition remains stiff within the party, as most believe that once a ticket is secured, it’s a chance close to winning the seat, more especially for the Buganda seats, where NUP enjoys majority support.
