The National Unity Platform (NUP) has resolved the tension between Shamim Malende and Zahara Luyirika by sending the KCCA speaker to Makindye West, while Shamim Malende will retain the party flag for Kampala Woman MP.
Luyirika, who had originally sought the party ticket for Kampala Woman MP, was transferred to Makindye West after to replace Allan Ssewanyana .
The development has been described as “careful consideration of both her capacity and the needs of the constituency.”
The vetting committee exercised its mandate to redeploy her, sparking discussions among party loyalists about the sidelining of other Makindye West hopefuls.
Malende’s retention of the Kampala Woman MP slot makes her one of the few incumbents in the city to hold onto her position amid the party’s wider reshuffle.
NUP’s shakeup in Kampala also saw five other sitting MPs replaced with fresh faces.
Aloysius Mukasa (Rubaga South) was replaced by Eugenia Nassolo, Kazibwe Bashir by Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, David Sserukenya (Makindye East) by Ali Nganda Mulyanyama, and Doreen Nyanjura Balimwezo, who opted to contest for Lord Mayor, by Waiswa Mufumbiro.
Some incumbents maintained their positions, including Luyimbaazi Nalukoola (Kawempe North), Kawalya Abubaker (Rubaga South), and Joel Ssenyonyi (Nakawa West).
Lewis Rubongoya, the party secretary general, enters as a new candidate for Kampala Central.
