Inapproprate Academic Papers Reportedly Cost Chameleon NUP Flag
The vetting committee of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party has picked Kawempe North Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Latif Ssebagala to contest for the Kampala mayoral seat.
NUP has come out to explain why singer Joseph Mayanja, also known as Chameleone was denied the party flag in his bid for Kampala Lord Mayor, in the coming elections.
The two were vetted last week to vie for the highest position in the city which is currently occupied by Mr Erias Lukwago who recently crossed from the Democratic Party to the Forum for Democratic Change.
According to party spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi says the party committee made a wide assessment and intervened with people on who should be NUP candidate for the position.
“We intervened with people from boda boda places, markets, door to door to see what the people were saying. We realized that Hon. Ssebagala had more edge than Jose Mayanja,” Ssenyonyi said.
Ssenyonyi adds that the process of selecting flag bearers entailed three stages namely a sit down and where the sit down didn’t work, the vetting process took place.
He adds that NUP sent teams on ground to find out what the people were saying before making a final decision.
“Teams were sent on ground to ascertain what the people were saying on ground because this is people power. The people must be involved in the selection process,” he said.
However Ssenyonyi says that Mayanja can file a petition which can be looked at if he is not satisfied with the decision.
Contrary, close sources say that the team vetting committee of NUP found Mr Sebaggala to be more suitable for the race compared to singer Joseph Mayanja aka Jose Chameleone.
The singer-turned-politician was dropped after failing to present appropriate academic qualifications which are necessary for nomination by the party’s Independent Electoral Commission.
Sources say, Chameleon presented questionable A level credential and when the team asked him to produce his O level qualifications, he failed.
NUP officials also said that Chameleon did not have a national identity card.
