Previously, the NUP consistently refused to participate in the elections, accusing it of legitimizing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the long-term presidency of Yoweri Museveni. However, last year the party changed its approach after amendments to the Law on Political Parties and Organizations made membership in the IPOD mandatory for receiving state funding. Due to the refusal to join, the NUP lost annual payments of about 5 billion TSh, which were received from the Election Commission.
Public funds are distributed among parties in proportion to their representation in Parliament, so NRM receives the bulk of the funds due to its majority.
In a letter dated June 18, NUP General Secretary David Lewis Rubongoy notified IPOD of the party's intention to join the organization and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Since NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu was absent, Rubongoya asked the IPOD secretariat to authorize Dr. Lina Zedrigu Vara, the acting head of the party, to sign the documents.
Shortly after the January 2026 general election, Chiagulanyi, citing threats to his life, left for the United States. In these circumstances, Rubongoya distributed a letter with a document in which Chiagulanyi extends the powers of Zedriga as acting president of the party for another month.
This correspondence appeared after IPOD Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Servambala Kabagabe sent a letter informing the NUP that the Board of General Secretaries had approved the party's request for admission to the association.
Servambala clarified that NUP's public statements about its readiness to join the IPOD were not supported by an official request to the secretariat. «The Council noted that, despite the public expression of interest in joining the IPOD, the secretariat had not received a clear written confirmation, only a document indirectly indicating the intention», he wrote. According to him, as soon as an official expression of interest is received, the NUP will be adopted at the next IPOD summit.
The Memorandum of Understanding also requires that the admission documents be signed by the President of the party personally with the participation of the Secretary General. «The Council expects that the head of the party will personally certify the accession papers and oblige the political force to adhere to the principles, goals and obligations of the IPOD during the signing ceremony», Servambala stressed.
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