National Unity Platform


The National Unity Platform, whose previous name was National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party is a liberal progressive political party in Uganda led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. The NUP was led by Moses Nkonge Kibalama, from December 2004 until July 2020. On 14 July 2020, Kyagulanyi assumed leadership of the party and was declared the party flag-bearer in the upcoming February 2021 Ugandan presidential elections.

Background

The NUP was formed in December 2004, headed by Moses Kibalama. For the next 16 years, he served as the President of the party.
In July 2017, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was sworn in as the member of parliament representing Kyaddondo East Constituency in the 10th Parliament. To win that constituency, he beat two seasoned politicians in a by-election; Sitenda Sebalu of the ruling National Resistance Movement party and Apollo Kantinti of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change.
While running for the Kyaddondo East seat, Kyagulanyi was shunned by both the DP and FDC political parties, so he ran as an Independent candidate. He adopted the People Power slogan as his rallying call, leading to what is referred to as the People Power Movement in Uganda.
On 22 July 2020, the founders of NUP, together with leading personalities from the People Power Movement, disclosed that Kyagulanyi had been elected President of NUP and presidential party flag bearer in the upcoming 2021 national elections.
The party is registered with the Uganda Electoral Commission. The party's symbol is an umbrella in red and white colors.  
On 28 July 2020, the party unveiled membership cards that cost USh1,000, an amount they said did not discriminate against social class and would be affordable to every Ugandan.