Why NUP Needs Patrick Kanyomozi as Party Spokesperson

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Kanyomozi

The former KFM presenter and sports journalist, Patrick Kanyomozi, announced his retirement from radio on December 29, 2023, where he has been serving for the last 13 years.

The declaration came just a few days after the National Unity Platform (NUP) party Secretary General, Lewis Rubongoya, announced changes that saw former party Spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi become the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), leaving his previous post vacant.

After Kanyomozi announced his retirement from radio, many Ugandans on different social media platforms couldn’t hold their predictions as they suspected that his resignation from radio was timely as he was to be the next NUP party spokesperson, and this is why.

On many occasions, NUP has been branded as the only Baganda party, and the party President Robert Kyagulanyi has been accused of tribalism because of the composition of his party executive and the many people around him, mostly from the central region, except for the Secretary General Rubongoya and a few other members.

Appointing Kanyomozi as the party spokesperson will try to downplay the tribalism accusations within the party’s top structures, and it’s another justification that Kyagulanyi can always point out in his defence.

Kanyomozi being from the western part of Uganda and a celebrated radio presenter and sports journalist who has held numerous positions on different sports bodies, Kyagulanyi hopes that he will come with a certain following to the party, at least if not physically, his online followers and fans are an added advantage to the already existing NUP online fans.

Personal friendship: Even when still working on radio, Kanyomozi has always been an ardent fan of Kyagulanyi and a personal friend who, on many occasions, has posted photos of him and Kyagulanyi together, which to many people means their personal relationship and Kanyomozi’s activism will count once he becomes the party spokesperson.

Patrick Kanyomozi
Patrick Kanyomozi (Left) posing with Robert Kyagulanyi during the launch of Bobi Wine’s documentary in the US. Courtesy photo

Kanyomozi already seems to be the darling of many party supporters and fans from the comments on the different social media platforms, where most of them have already welcomed him to officially take over as the next party spokesperson, and with that love, it already makes him the favourite for the job.

Additionally, Kanyomozi has been on radio for more than a decade, and as a journalist, he is good at public relations and public speaking. In his calmness, he commands respect, and with his radio and TV connections, he will have a better audience as the party spokesperson compared to any other party member.

As we await the announcement of the next NUP party spokesperson, the fans and party supporters have already guessed that Kanyomozi fits well in the shoes of Ssenyonyi and are just waiting for the appointment.

Kanyomozi started his radio career as a news reader during his Senior Six vacation, and as he announced his retirement on X last week, he was all thanks to his supporters and fans.

“I am grateful to everyone who gave me a hand on my radio and journalism journey. To everyone I have worked with, I thank you. To the listeners, thank you so much; without you, I wouldn’t be where I am. Retirement is here; onto the next chapter,” the statement read.

Kanyomozi is married to Capital FM radio presenter Lucky Mbabazi, and together they have four children.