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David Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary General of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has responded to critics who questioned his decision not to contest for an elective position in his home district of Mbarara, in southwestern Uganda.
Rubongoya announced recently that in the upcoming 2026 elections, he will be running for MP Kampala Central and not in his home district.
Critics had argued that his candidacy in Mbarara could expand the party’s influence beyond its Buganda stronghold, dispelling accusations that the NUP is merely a Buganda-based political entity.
A Personal Connection to Kampala
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In his response on Thursday, Rubongoya explained that although he hails from Mbarara, he has lived in Kampala for the past 20 years.
"I am a Munyoro by tribe, but my father and mother met in Ankole in Mbarara, and that is where I was born," he explained.
He noted that Kampala, not Mbarara, is where he has built his life—raised his children, settled down, and established his career.
“This is where I have settled, had my children, all my work is here and so on; even my children struggle to speak any other language,” Rubongoya said.
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Given his long-term stay in Kampala, Rubongoya stated that he understands the city and its people much better than any other constituency.
He added that, despite his strong ties to Mbarara, his children have grown up in Buganda and even struggle with speaking Runyankole, the language of his ancestral home.
The Practicalities of Party Leadership
Rubongoya also tackled the issue of his responsibilities as NUP’s Secretary General, a role that demands time and attention.
“If I chose to go and contest in Mbarara, where I was raised, I can win easily because we have a lot of support there as a party,” he admitted.
However, he explained that his leadership duties in Kampala, managing the day-to-day operations of the party, would suffer if he were to split his time between Mbarara and Kampala.
"The work would not go smoothly for me," he said, acknowledging that proximity to the party's headquarters in Kampala is crucial to fulfilling his role effectively.
Ultimately, Rubongoya said while he could easily win a seat in Mbarara, the practical challenges of balancing his national duties as Secretary General and his commitment to the party in Kampala led him to choose a more localised approach to his political future.