“I am still a NUP member much as the party has decided someone else to contest for the same position. I decided to defy the party to come as an Independent after I was denied a card for NUP…The city is not looking for an Opposition leader. It needs a capable leader who will be able to promote development and come up with strategies to create jobs for the youths” – Jose Chameleone (Job Bwire – ‘I support Bobi Wine but I’ve my ambitions, says Jose Chameleone’ 01.10.2020).
The National Unity Platform (NUP) have accepted and endorsed Nabilah Naggayi Sempala MP as the Lord Mayoral Aspirant for Kampala. That happened after the first round of nominations where MP Latif Ssebagala dropped out of the day after getting the nomination. In that race to become the Lord Mayoral Aspirant for the NUP, one of them was Joseph Manyanja aka Jose Chameleone.
Chameleone lost to Ssebagala. However, he dropped out as he wanted the Opposition to have a joint candidate in Kampala. That is something the NUP didn’t accept, as they want to challenge the status quo and go after the incumbent Erias Lukwago.
It is ironic that the NUP has Sempala MP as the Flag-Bearer as she intended to run for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for the same role. Alas, she was blocked first because of the agreement between FDC and Lukwago. Later, Lukwago got nominated directly when he shifted parties and became a FDC Member. Therefore, Sempala bears grudges, as she knows she would struggle to defend her place as Woman MP against Dr. Stella Nyanzi. This is why she fled the FDC for NUP.
So, Sempala has found herself a new home. However, her campaign now is more throwing a tantrums against her former party. It is understandable that she is hurt. Nevertheless, she has jumped ships before and returned home. This time it seems more permanent. While it will be fruitless.
I doubt with the standing Lukwago has, that he will be defeated this time around. He has the gravitas and the field for himself. The man has won twice and could easily do it again. The NRM sending Ragga Dee is just mockery of the race. Because, they know they cannot win it.
Chameleone running as independent with the People Power sticker will not make significant change. He will maybe steal votes for Sempala, but not take away from Lukwago. That is why they are both lucky losers.
Chameleone and Sempala are running a race to the bottom. It is just a matter of how fast it will happen. Chameleone could have run on the DP Ticket, but he ditched that and they have another candidate in his stead. Sempala couldn’t face Lukwago and Nyanzi in the FDC. Therefore, she needed to run somewhere. That just happened to be NUP.
Neither of Chameleone or Sempala are people who are trustworthy in the public. They are looking like meal-ticket politicians. When it quack like a ducks and sounds like a duck, it is most likely a duck. These two are that by all definition. These are not people serving the interests or trying to conceal it even.
This is why, if I have faith in the people living in Kampala. They are seeing the same and doesn’t want to waste their votes. Yes, the NUP is a power for change and wanting to dismantle the NRM. However, a person like Sempala isn’t the trick. She will bend wherever she needs to get in office. Chameleone will do the same and that is why he has switched so quickly too.
That is why these two are not it. They are not showing anything in manifestos or pledges. Except, they are the magic potion to fix everything…. I don’t believe that, but that is the play they are playing. Peace.
MinBane 