Kimaanya-Kabonera Member of Parliament (MP) Abed Bwanika is facing massive criticism for saying that the current situation in the National Unity Platform (NUP), a party he subscribes to, is akin to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) case.
While appearing on NBS TV’s Frontline show last night, Bwanika, who sides with former Leader of the Opposition Mathias Mpuuga in the ongoing Mpuuga-NUP standoff, stated that there are serious issues within NUP, and he can’t just pamper something that he believes is not moving right.
“It is like a family affair party, family empire, no structures, no ideology, and no national character,” Bwanika said.
He added, “One time we were called to meet members of the NUP National Executive Committee, I saw them for the first time and among them, I saw Nubian Lee, Mr. Mosh, and Eddie Mutwe.”
Bwanika’s utterances have attracted massive criticism against him. Many are asking him to quit the party and build his own.
One Edward Lule commented, “You voluntarily joined NUP, it propelled you to parliament, you are at liberty to exit. You veteran politicians have always undermined Robert Kyagulanyi but I can assure you he is unpredictable.”
“They claim NUP is failing but they don’t want to leave and we see if it will fail,” Kigozi Charles said.
The NUP-Mpuuga standoff started when the party asked him to step down from his current position as parliamentary commissioner, accusing him of corruption and abuse of office.
In response, Mpuuga declined to step down, explaining that the said Shs500 million ‘Service Award’ money was granted to him by the Parliamentary Commission as gratuity, and thus he cannot be accused of any crime.
This has now escalated into a back-and-forth between several NUP leaders, including their leader Robert Kyagulanyi and Mpuuga. Many are of the view that the issue might split up the currently strongest opposition party.