Moses Nkonge Kibalama, the former president of the National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP), which in 2020 changed to National Unity Platform (NUP), has withdrawn a court case challenging the leadership of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
Since late 2020, Kibalama and his former Secretary General, Paul Ssimbwa Kagombe, have been contesting Kyagulanyi’s leadership, arguing that it had deviated from what was agreed upon when the new leadership assumed office.
The first case was dismissed in 2020, but they later reconstituted other cases seeking to have the court nullify Kyagulanyi’s leadership. Speaking at the National Unity Platform offices in Kampala, a frail-looking Kibalama said it was time to reconcile so that the party could move forward.
He said they were putting aside their disagreements to resume working together for the benefit of not only the party but also the country.
Paul Ssimbwa Kagombe, the former Secretary General of NURP, apologised to the leadership of NUP and confirmed that the court case had been withdrawn in the spirit of reconciliation.
Kagombe said that, unlike previous instances where they publicly announced reconciliation with the current NUP leadership only to later go back on their word, this time they had taken time to reflect seriously and concluded that returning to NUP was their only viable option. He called upon Ugandans to support Kyagulanyi in the upcoming presidential elections.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said that although the party had been hurt by the actions of Kibalama and Kagombe, actions that even stalled the Electoral Commission from gazetting the party’s new constitution, they were pleased that the two had acknowledged their mistakes and agreed to bury the hatchet.
Asked whether the party trusts Kibalama and his group not to renege on their commitment this time, Rubongoya said the possibility remains, but that would not stop NUP from doing what it believes is right.
NUP Treasurer Benjamin Katana said that as a party, they believe in reconciliation and therefore could not reject Kibalama when he reached out. He blamed the fallout on NUP’s enemies, whom he said are intent on exploiting any divisions within the party to sow discord. Katana questioned what grounds could now be used to cause disagreement, given that the party has reconciled with its former leaders.
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