Politics 10 November 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)

Nalubowa Defends State House Meeting with Museveni Amid NUP Disciplinary Threats

Former NUP parliamentary candidate Rose Nalubowa has defended her meeting with President Museveni following the 2026 elections, stating she was responding to a personal presidential summons. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/nalubowa-defends-meeting-museveni-as-nup-threatens-disciplinary-action-5665036

Rose Nalubowa, the former National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate for the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament seat, has strongly defended her decision to meet with President Yoweri Museveni. The meeting, which took place in February following the disputed January 15, 2026 parliamentary elections, has stirred significant controversy within opposition ranks and triggered potential disciplinary actions from her party.

Speaking out on the matter, Ms Nalubowa explained that her visit to State House was not an act of betrayal or political compromise. Instead, she maintained that she was personally summoned by the Head of State. According to Nalubowa, the meeting was called so she could clarify various allegations and issues surrounding the fiercely contested polls in Masaka.

The encounter has generated mixed reactions among NUP supporters and the wider public. While a faction of party loyalists has accused her of violating opposition principles by engaging with the leader of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), others have adopted a more pragmatic view. Supporters of this latter perspective argue that declining a direct presidential summons under such tense and controversial electoral circumstances was simply not feasible.

As the NUP leadership contemplates disciplinary measures against members engaging with the ruling establishment, Nalubowa’s defense highlights the complex political pressures faced by opposition candidates in the aftermath of disputed elections. The unfolding situation continues to test party discipline and internal unity as the political landscape reacts to post-election engagements.