Former Jinja East Member of Parliament, Paul Mwiru has joined Bobi Wine-led political party, National Unity Platform (NUP), Plus News has learnt.
Mwiru who has been a member of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) led by former army commander, Gen Mugisha Muntu, will officially be unveiled later on Friday at the party’s offices in Jinja City, in a move that could boost the NUP’s efforts to maintain a grip on Busoga as the political momentum for the 2026 general elections begins to rise.
Bobi Wine, a former presidential candidate, together with other NUP big wigs including Lewis Rubongoya (Secretary General), Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro (Deputy Spokesperson), John Baptist Nambeshe (Opposition Chief Whip) are currently in Jinja to receive the ‘big fish’.
Speaking on a local radio station on on Friday morning Mwiru likened his new membership in NUP to a football player who has concluded medical tests and terms with a new club, saying he is ready to advance the party’s aspirations.
He said he opted to join NUP in order to join efforts in furthering the party’s support in Busoga with the view of enabling Bobi Wine become President of Uganda.
“I have joined NUP purposely to share knowledge, ideas and efforts with colleagues to see that we not only maintain our grip on Busoga, but also ensure that our leader Bobi Wine becomes President,” Mwiru said on Friday.
He added that: “Mr Museveni has been in power for nearly 40 years, there is nothing new he can offer to this country that he has not done in this period.”
The 46 year old former legislator further accused President Yoweri Museveni of promoting sectarianism and advancing family rule at the expense of the rest of Ugandans.
“For us, we are here to further the ‘struggle’. Those who came before us did their part, and we are also playing our part now. This is the reason I have come,” he said.
On MPs Twaha Kagabo and Jimmy Lwanga who recently joined Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba MK Movement, Mwiru said the duo should not detract change thirsty Ugandans from pushing the cause.
“When you delete an icon from the computer, the computer remains. We the individuals are not the struggle, and so when an individual abandons the struggle, the struggle stays,” he reiterated.
Mwiru’s unveiling has confirmed a statement by the leader of opposition Mathias Mpuuga recently during a fundraising drive for the women groups organised by the Jinja City Woman MP, Manjeri Kyebakutika that leaders of NUP were in talks with Mwiru, to have him join their party.
Mpuuga said Busoga has bright key leaders like Mwiru whom NUP desires to work with given his powerful influence.
“His being in ANT is not a problem because we have no quarrels with the party but we only wish he can join NUP as a leading party.We are in talks with him to see that we work together,” Mpuuga said.
Mpuuga also noted that leaders in Busoga needed to build strong unity if they are to see the region to develop.
“We need to unite the people of Busoga to believe that change is possible in our times,” he said, urging the people of Busoga to “wake up and elect leaders who can respond to the demands of the citizens,” citing the bad roads in Jinja City.
He said the regime under the NRM is not sustainable for the people, it is the reason the fundraising by the MPs in their respective constituencies is a reaction to the gaps in service deliveries in education, poverty eradication and health services across the country.