By Naome Namusoke/KMAUpdates
The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has suffered a fresh setback after one of its most loyal and influential figures, Sauda Madada, announced she will contest as an independent candidate in the 2026 general elections.
Madada, popularly known as the party’s “iron lady,” has for years stood firm on the frontline during NUP’s confrontations with security forces, enduring tear gas, arrests, and imprisonment in defence of the party’s cause. Her resilience and outspoken support for NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, earned her a reputation as one of the party’s fiercest loyalists.
Despite this unwavering commitment, Madada was denied the NUP ticket for the Kampala Central Lord Councillor seat, a decision that sparked outrage among sections of the public who regarded her as a natural choice for the position.
The development comes amid growing dissatisfaction within the opposition party over the way flag bearers were selected. Several hopefuls with strong grassroots support and longstanding loyalty to the party were sidelined, with reports of corruption and favouritism influencing the final list of candidates.
Insiders allege that some senior officials manipulated the process, sidelining genuine contenders in Favor of individuals with weaker political bases but stronger connections within party leadership. Madada’s exclusion has been described by critics as one of the most glaring examples of the alleged irregularities.
On Wednesday morning, Madada arrived at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Ntinda to formally be nominated as an independent candidate. The move, though celebrated by her supporters, places her at odds with NUP’s constitution, which bars members who run independently from retaining party membership.
However, Madada insists that her loyalty to NUP and Bobi Wine remains unshaken.
“NUP is my party. Standing as an independent does not mean I have left. I am still loyal to my party and its president,” she told journalists shortly after her nomination.
She further revealed that her decision was not self-driven but a response to overwhelming calls from voters who mobilized resources and collected the required signatures on her behalf.
“The pressure to stand as an independent came from the voters. Even when I was at home, they had already collected signatures and urged me to contest. For the good of Kampala Central, my people, and my country, I accepted the call to serve,” Madada said.
Madada’s defection to independent politics highlights the growing internal cracks within NUP, Uganda’s strongest opposition party and the main challenger to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
As the 2026 polls draw closer, NUP faces the dual challenge of countering state pressure while managing discontent within its ranks. The party’s ambitious mission to end President Yoweri Museveni’s four-decade rule could be undermined if more loyal members like Madada feel sidelined and opt to go independent.
Analysts say that while Madada remains committed to Bobi Wine ideologically, her independent bid risks fragmenting opposition votes in Kampala Central, a constituency critical to the party’s dominance in the capital.
The 2026 general elections are shaping up to be a pivotal moment not just for Uganda’s political future but also for the internal survival of NUP as a united opposition force.