The National Unity Platform (NUP) has launched a nationwide fundraising campaign ahead of the 2026 general elections, with Members of Parliament making significant financial pledges in a strong show of internal solidarity.
The campaign launch, held at the party’s headquarters in Kavule, saw nearly UGX 1 billion raised in a single day.
Party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, led the event with a passionate appeal to Ugandans both at home and in the diaspora to contribute towards the electoral push.
Kyagulanyi disclosed that the party is facing a dire financial situation, and even his own nomination as the presidential flag bearer remains uncertain due to a lack of funds.
“We don’t have a single coin in our coffers. The little money we had was spent printing campaign posters,” Kyagulanyi said. “Even my own nomination as flag bearer is hanging in balance.”
He further criticized the Political Parties and Organizations Act, saying the funding conditions attached to government financial support are incompatible with NUP’s political values.
“We cannot accept money that comes with strings attached from the very regime we are working to replace,” he added, stating that the party would instead rely on public contributions.
Despite these challenges, the event ended on a high as several NUP leaders, particularly Members of Parliament, pledged large sums of money to kickstart the drive.
Among the most notable was the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, who pledged UGX 20 million—double the UGX 10 million personally contributed by party president Kyagulanyi.
Their pledges were part of a broader outpouring of support from across the party’s national leadership, including MPs and aspiring flag bearers, signaling a united and determined front as the party gears up for what it expects to be a highly contested electoral season.
While the UGX 1 billion raised marked a strong beginning, party officials made it clear that far more would be required to sustain a competitive campaign across the country.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya noted that the financial needs for 2026 would surpass those of the 2021 elections, when the party reportedly spent more than UGX 10 million per day.
“We are going to need more money than we did in 2021,” Rubongoya said. “And yet, we are starting this journey without the kind of backing that other parties receive.”
He referenced a 2021 survey by the Alliance for Finance Monitoring, which estimated that over UGX 3 trillion was spent by all candidates in the last general election.
According to the report, President Museveni spent around UGX 900 billion, while Kyagulanyi’s campaign was run on just UGX 3 billion—a sharp reflection of the financial imbalance between opposition and ruling party candidates.
To coordinate ongoing fundraising activities, Kyagulanyi announced the formation of a three-member committee that will lead the initiative in the coming months.
The party also appealed to its supporters, well-wishers, and diaspora communities to contribute whatever they can.
“This is not just our campaign; it’s the people’s struggle. If you believe in change, we need your help,” Kyagulanyi urged.
With a strong start driven by the pledges of committed party leaders, NUP hopes to sustain the momentum and close the financial gap ahead of the 2026 elections.
