A storm is brewing in Bukedea politics after the National Unity Platform (NUP) announced Florence Asio as its new flag bearer for the District Woman MP seat, following the sudden deregistration of Mercy Alupo from the national voters’ register a move the opposition party calls “a calculated act of political suppression.”
The decision, announced over the weekend by the NUP Election Management Committee, has sparked outrage within the party and among sections of the public, with many questioning the transparency and independence of the Electoral Commission.
According to NUP officials, the removal of Alupo’s name from the voters’ register was both abrupt and suspicious, occurring just weeks before the campaign season heats up. Party leaders allege that the incident forms part of a wider scheme to weaken opposition candidates in areas dominated by powerful incumbents.
“Our candidate, Mercy Alupo, faced continuous sabotage that crippled her campaign,” said Harriet Chemuntai, the Chairperson of NUP’s Election Management Committee. “This was not just administrative failure—it was deliberate political suppression. We now stand behind Florence Asio, a resilient leader committed to the people of Bukedea.”
Chemuntai described the replacement as a “painful but necessary” decision to keep NUP’s campaign machinery active in Bukedea, where the party hopes to make inroads against the ruling establishment.
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, echoed Chemuntai’s frustration during a rally in Bukedea, accusing the Electoral Commission of acting under the influence of top government officials. He singled out the area’s current MP and Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, accusing her of using her position to manipulate electoral processes.
“How can Anita Among frustrate not one, but two of her opponents, bend the system, and still stand as an ‘independent’ with no consequences?” Kyagulanyi asked amid cheers from supporters. “This is not just an attack on a candidate; it’s an insult to the people of Bukedea.”
The Electoral Commission has yet to issue an official response to the allegations, though insiders say Alupo’s deregistration may have been due to “technical irregularities” in the national voter database an explanation NUP rejects as politically motivated.
Political observers view the development as a fresh flashpoint in Uganda’s increasingly contentious pre-election atmosphere, where opposition figures have frequently accused the government of weaponizing state institutions against them.
Meanwhile, Florence Asio’s selection is being framed by NUP as a symbol of resilience and continuity. Her campaign team says she will continue Alupo’s mission to challenge entrenched political dominance in Bukedea and offer “a new voice for accountability and people-centered leadership.”
With tensions rising and accusations flying, Bukedea is fast shaping up to be a key battleground in Uganda’s run-up to the 2026 general elections one that could test the limits of the country’s democratic space and the credibility of its electoral institutions.
