KAMPALA, Uganda — National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for the Eastern Region, John Baptist Nambeshe, has been appointed the party’s Acting President, taking over from Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru after her four month stint in the role.
The appointment took effect on July 17 and was announced by NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, through his official social media platforms.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya described the transition as a routine leadership arrangement whenever Kyagulanyi is out of the country.
“It is routine. Whenever party President Robert Kyagulanyi is away, he appoints one of the Deputy Presidents to act in his place. Honourable Nambeshe was appointed on July 17 as acting president of the party,” Rubongoya said.
Kyagulanyi has been outside Uganda for about four months after leaving the country with his wife and children amid reports of threats of arrest by security agencies. During his absence, Dr. Zedriga, the party’s Deputy President for the Northern Region, has overseen the day to day affairs of the opposition party.
Announcing the leadership transition, Kyagulanyi commended Dr. Zedriga for her stewardship.
“For four months, Dr. Zedriga has been acting president of our party. During this period, she has steered the party well and kept the revolution alive. We are all very grateful for her dedication and service,” he said.
He added that as her tenure came to an end, Nambeshe would assume the acting presidency and called upon party leaders and members to accord him their full support.
Nambeshe, the Member of Parliament for Manjiya County in Bududa District, is one of NUP’s senior leaders and currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition’s Chief Whip in Parliament. He has represented Manjiya County since 2016 and also serves as the party’s Deputy President for the Eastern Region.
This is not the first time Nambeshe has held the acting role. In 2021, he briefly served as Acting NUP President during Kyagulanyi’s three week absence from the country on official engagements.
Before joining the opposition, Nambeshe was affiliated with the ruling National Resistance Movement before later crossing to the opposition, where he has become one of NUP’s prominent parliamentary figures.
Following his appointment, Nambeshe expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him and pledged to uphold the party’s principles while promoting unity within its leadership. Dr. Zedriga also congratulated him and pledged her support to ensure a smooth transition.
The National Unity Platform has maintained a system in which one of its regional deputy presidents assumes the acting presidency whenever Kyagulanyi is away, a structure intended to ensure continuity in leadership and party operations.
NUP, Uganda’s leading opposition party, has continued to coordinate parliamentary activities, grassroots mobilisation and political engagements despite Kyagulanyi’s prolonged absence from the country.
With his experience in Parliament and previous service in the acting role, Nambeshe is expected to steer the party’s affairs until Kyagulanyi returns to resume his duties.
