Democratic Front (DF) party president and former Leader of the Opposition Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba has declared his bid to run for Nyendo–Mukungwe Division Member of Parliament.
Mpuuga made the announcement during a community engagement in Mukudde Village, Masaka City, putting to rest weeks of speculation about his political future.
“The party has directed me to return to Nyendo–Mukungwe and serve another five years as we prepare for the next move,” Mpuuga told the gathering.
He said his campaign will be rooted in service delivery, not mere visibility.
He urged voters to value leaders who are present, principled, and purposeful, warning that communities without focused leadership often struggle in times of crisis.
Mpuuga’s decision comes barely a week after his former party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), released its list of flag bearers ahead of the 2026 general elections.
He will face off against Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira, the NUP flag bearer, among other candidates.
In June 2025, at Laston Gardens in Kijjabwemi, Masaka, Mpuuga launched his political party, the Democratic Front (DF), following a fallout with the leadership of NUP.
Fallout with NUP
In January 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of NUP dismissed Mpuuga from his position and appointed Butambala County MP Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi as the new Deputy President for the Buganda Region. According to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Lubongoya, Mpuuga had effectively distanced himself from the party’s values.
The fallout followed allegations of corruption against Mpuuga. He was accused of awarding himself a Shs 500 million “service award” during his tenure as a Parliamentary Commissioner. Although the court later confirmed that the funds were disbursed through established procedures, the incident sparked controversy within NUP.
On March 15, 2024, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) publicly addressed the matter. He stated that Mpuuga, along with Speaker Anita Among and other Parliamentary Commissioners, had been implicated in a misallocation scandal.
“It was alleged that Mpuuga, together with Speaker Anita Among and others, wrongfully awarded himself Shs 500 million,” Bobi Wine said. “After credible evidence came to light, I convened a meeting with all deputy presidents and party leadership.”
Bobi Wine noted that during the meeting, Mpuuga admitted to receiving the money and acknowledged that it should not have been awarded personally. He was advised to: return the funds, apologize publicly, and resign from his position on the Parliamentary Commission.
“We await to see whether Mpuuga will heed this advice and take moral action,” Kyagulanyi added.
Formal Recall from Parliamentary Commission
On March 18, 2024, NUP Secretary General Lubongoya formally petitioned Speaker Anita Among to recall Mpuuga from the Parliamentary Commission. Lubongoya stated that Mpuuga’s response to NEC’s notice had failed to adequately address the allegations.
“NEC has resolved to recall Mathias Mpuuga from the Parliamentary Commission on the grounds of corruption, dishonesty, and abuse of office,” Lubongoya wrote, further nominating Zaake Francis Butebi as Mpuuga’s replacement.
In response, Speaker Among clarified that while parties nominate commissioners, it is Parliament that elects them. Once elected, commissioners no longer represent party interests but serve Parliament as a whole.
“Commissioners can only be removed through a motion supported by at least one-third of voting MPs,” she noted. With 529 Members of Parliament, at least 177 MPs would need to support such a motion.
Among added that Mpuuga had neither vacated his parliamentary seat nor been found guilty of misconduct by Parliament—conditions required for his removal from the commission.
